It is that time of the month when we get to check out the latest single-issue comic book sales numbers. As always, the Comichron is the best source for these sales numbers. The Comichron released the Top 400 August 2021 comic book sales chart and the Top 400 August 2021 graphic novels sales chart.
Remember that the Top 400 August 2021 comic book sales chart and the Top 400 August 2021 graphic novel sales chart are both 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. These numbers are also not actual sales. These numbers only represent the number of units ordered by local comic shops.
August 2021 Top 400 Single Issue Comic Sales
The Battle for the Top 10
1 King Spawn #1 (Image Comics) 479,908 units
2 Batman ’89 #1 (DC Comics) 134,000 units
3 Batman #111 (DC Comics) 118,000 units
4 X-Men Trial of Magneto #1 (Marvel Comics) 117,334 units
5 Batman Fear State Alpha #1 (DC Comics) 98,000 units
6 X-Men #2 (Marvel Comics) 95,227 units
7 Moon Knight #2 (Marvel Comics) 93,587 units
8 Kang the Conqueror #1 (Marvel Comics) 82,234 units
9 Amazing Spider-Man #72 (Marvel Comics) 81,262 units
10 Star Wars War Bounty Hunters #3 (Marvel Comics) 80,523 units.
Shit. It is the 1990s all over again. Image Comics is hot and Spawn is killing the sales charts. King Spawn posted a very 1990s-type sales number by grabbing the number one spot with 479,908 units. That is just stunning in this current market. Both Marvel and DC should take a long look at what Todd McFarlane is doing with the Spawn franchise. McFarlane focuses on entertainment with this franchise. This provides a blueprint for success for both publishers.
Marvel dominated all publishers by placing six titles in the Top 10. Marvel demonstrated more diversity than DC Comics in terms of the number of franchises powering their Top 10 sales. The X-Men franchise, the Star Wars Franchise, the Avengers franchise, the Moon Knight franchise, and the Spider-Man franchise all make their appearances in the Marvel titles in the Top 10. It is a real credit to Marvel for how they have been able to increase the number of successful franchises. This allows Marvel to avoid having to rely solely on one franchise to power its success. The more franchisees that Marvel can nurture and grow the better their long-term health.
DC slotted just three titles in the Top 10. That is just brutal. As usual, all of DC’s titles in the Top 10 are Batman titles. DC is the direct opposite of Marvel at this point. DC continues to show a serious problem with their line of comics as they continue to cling to the Batman franchise as a shipwreck survivor does to a piece of the wreckage.
The Battle for the Top 25
Marvel absolutely dominated the Top 25. The House of the Mouse placed 14 titles in the Top 25. Marvel’s titles were spread out evenly among the X-Men franchise, Spider-Man franchise, Avengers franchise, Star Wars franchise, Moon Knight, and Defenders. This continues to be a defining difference between Marvel and DC in the sales charts. Marvel continues to do a far better job of diversifying its portfolio of popular titles.
On the other hand, DC Comics got embarrassed by only placing 7 titles in the Top 25. DC also continued its overreliance on the Batman franchise for any meager success that they might have in the sales charts. Six of the seven DC titles in the Top 25 were from the Batman franchise. This is an unhealthy reliance on just one franchise to power DC’s sales success.
Image managed to place 3 titles in the Top 25 which is a pretty impressive feat for Image these days.
Boom was able to sneak one title into the Top 25 with Eat the Rich #1 which nabbed the 21st spot with 61,021 units.
The overall sales numbers continue to be unimpressive for the Top 25. By the number 11 spot, the sales number is already down to 78,000 units. By the number 15 spot, the sales numbers slip into the high 60,000 unit range. By the number 22 spot, the sales numbers dip into the high 50,000 unit range. Immortal Hulk #49 took the number 25 spot and sold 57,000 units. The Top 25 sales numbers continue to show the weakness in the current comic book market.
The Battle for the Top 50
Marvel continued its dominance by placing 23 titles in the Top 50. Again, Marvel succeeded in spreading those 23 titles among the X-Men franchise, Spider-Man franchise, Avengers franchise, Star Wars franchise, Moon Knight, Defenders, Deadpool, Darkhawk, and Alien.
DC finally begins to narrow the gap with Marvel by placing 21 titles in the Top 50. However, DC’s unhealthy overreliance on the Batman franchise continues to be a factor as 14 of DC’s 21 titles were from the Batman franchise and only 7 were from non-Batman family titles.
Image did not do much in the Top 50 at all as they only added an additional title to their total by placing 4 titles in the Top 50. Likewise, Boom only added one title to their total by putting 2 titles in the Top 50.
The overall sales numbers in the Top 50 continue to be soft. By the number 34 spot, the sales numbers are already in the high 40,000 unit range. Avengers #47 was in the number 50 spot with just 41,929 units.
The Battle for the Top 100
Marvel widened their gap over DC Comics by placing 47 titles in the Top 100. DC placed 41 titles. Even in the Top 100, the majority of DC’s sales success came from the Batman franchise. 21 of DC’s 41 titles in the Top 100 were from the Batman family.
Image placed 8 titles in the Top 100 which is a pretty solid showing for Image. Boom stayed at 2 titles. Darkhorse and IDW finally make their first appearances in the sales chart by each placing 1 title in the Top 100.
The overall sales numbers in the Top 100 continued the trend of the modern-age comic market. By the number 57 spot, the sales numbers were in the high 30,000 unit range. By the number 92 spot, the sales numbers were in the high 20,000 unit range.
Debut Issues
- King Spawn #1 (Image) 479,908 units
- X-Men Trial of Magneto #1 (Marvel) 117,334 units
- Kang the Conqueror #1 (Marvel) 82,234 units
- Me You Love In The Dark #1 (Image) 69,043 units
- Defenders #1 sold 66,264 units
- Eat The Rich #1 sold 61,021 units
- Joker Presents a Puzzlebox #1 sold 56,000 units
- Star Wars War Bounty Hunters 4-LOM Zuckuss #1 sold 48,282 units
- Darkhawk #1 sold 46,633 units
- Suicide Squad Get Joker #1 sold 45,000 units
- Spirits of Vengeance Spirit Rider #1 sold 41,359 units
- Echolands #1 sold 40,262 units
- Star Wars High Republic Adventures Monster of Temple Peak #1 sold 33,210 units
- Superman ’78 #1 sold 33,00 units
- Cable reloaded #1 sold 31,775 units
- Hardware Season One #1 sold 27,000 units
- Avengers Tech-On #1 sold 26,794 units
- Superman vs. Lobo #1 sold 25,000 units
- Winter Guard #1 sold 24,245 units
- Pennyworth #1 sold 20,000 units
- Miles Morales Marvel Tales #1 sold 18,285 units
Obviously, the debut issues for the Spawn franchise and the X-Men franchise were big hits. I was also impressed with the strong showing by Kang the Conquerer #1.
However, there were several debut issues that posted sales numbers that suggest possible problems ahead. Defenders #1 only sold 66,264 units. Now, it may be that Defenders settles in around the 50,000 unit range and becomes a dependable but not spectacular seller. Or, Defenders may end up rapidly dropping into the 30,000 unit range. It will be interesting to see what happens over the course of the next few months.
Darkhawk #1 posted an unimpressive sales number of 46,633 units. Marvel’s handling of the Darkhawk franchise follows its standard operating procedure for smaller franchises. Kill off the established white male hero and replace them with a minority character. This approach has not led to sales success for Marvel in the past and it appears that Marvel is going to fail again with Darkhawk. I have a feeling that Darkhawk will rapidly fall into the 20,000-unit range within a few months.
Spirits of Vengeance #1 is a title that makes me wonder why Marvel thought this was a good idea to publish. The sales number of 41,359 units indicates that Spirits of Vengeance should be in the 20,000-unit range within a few months.
Batman ’89 #1 took the number two spot with 134,000 units. Superman ’78 #1 sold a pathetic 33,000 units. ‘Nuff said.
Hardware Season One #1, Avengers Tech-On #1, Superman vs. Lobo #1, Winter Guard #1, and Pennyworth #1 all received the kiss of death by being placed on the Dead Titles Walking list with their very first issues. The outlook is grim for all of these new titles.
Miles Morales Marvel Tales #1 did even worse and grabbed the dubious honor of being the only debut issue to post a sub-20,000 unit sales number.
Big Events
- Sinister War #2 sold 65,029 units
- Sinister War #3 sold 55,575 units
- Infinite Frontier #4 sold 47,000 units
- Infinite Frontier #5 sold 44,000 units
Marvel’s big Spider-Man event, Sinister War, continues to be a solid, but not spectacular, seller. There is nothing to get excited about or disappointed with Sinister War’s sales numbers.
On the other hand, DC Comics has to be embarrassed over the sales numbers for their big event in Infinite Frontier. Seeing DC’s big event selling only in the 40,000-unit range is horrendous. Again, it makes you question DC’s decisions with their line of comics going forward.
Star Wars Franchise
- Star Wars War Bounty Hunters #3 80,523 units
- Star Wars High Republic #8 66,974 units
- Star Wars Darth Vader #15 57,688 units
- Star Wars #16 52,895 units
- Star Wars War Bounty Hunters 4-LOM Zuckuss #1 48,383 units
- Star Wars Bounty Hunters #15 44,742 units
- Star Wars Doctor Aphra #13 38,187 units
- Star Wars High Republic Adventures Monster of Temple Peak #1 33,210 units
- Star Wars High Republic Adventures #7 sold 25,928 units
- Star Wars Adventures #8 sold 12,321 units
Mama Disney’s gift of the Star Wars franchise to Marvel continues to pay dividends. Star Wars War Bounty Hunters continues to be quite popular and a strong seller. I may not like Star Wars High Republic, but I cannot deny that this title continues to post solid sales numbers. Darth Vader and Star Wars also continue to be dependable sellers.
Star Wars War Bounty Hunters 4-Lom Zuckuss #1 had an unimpressive debut sales number. This title may quickly fall into the 30,000-unit range. Star Wars Bounty Hunters #15 posted a pedestrian sales number. I will be curious to see in which direction Bounty Hunters goes going forward.
The rest of the Star Wars titles? Meh. Star Wars Doctor Aphra continues to post unimpressive sales numbers in the 30,000 unit range. Star Wars High Republic Adventures of Temple Peak #1 posted a disastrous debut sales number of 33,210. And IDW’s two Star Wars titles are the cellar dwellers for the Star Wars franchise.
Spider-Man Franchise
- Amazing Spider-Man #72 sold 81,262 units
- Sinister War #2 sold 65,029 units
- Extreme Carnage Lasher #1 sold 62,647 units
- Sinister War #3 sold 55,575 units
- Extreme Carnage Riot #1 sold 50,538 units
- Miles Morales Spider-Man #29 sold 39,005 units
- Silk #5 sold 38,665 units
- Spider-Man Life Story Annual #1 sold 38,147 units
- Non-Stop Spider-Man #4 sold 34,961 units
- Miles Morales Spider-Man Annual #1 sold 34,614 units
- Spider-Man Spider’s Shadow #5 sold 30,885 units
- Symbiote Spider-Man Crossroads #2 sold 25,570 units
- Web of Spider-Man #3 sold 24,459 units
- Spider-Woman #14 sold 19,190 units
The Spider-Man franchise continues to have success with the flagship title Amazing Spider-Man. Sinister War and Carnage are both solid sellers.
The rest of the Spider-Man franchise is rather unimpressive. Both Miles Morales Spider-Man and Silk are selling in the 30,000-unit range. The other ancillary Spider-Man titles are in the 30,000-unit range and the 20,000-unit range.
And then there is Spider-Woman #14 which sold a horrendous 19,190 units. It is remarkable that Marvel is willing to continue to publish this title.
X-Men Franchise
- X-Men Trial of Magneto #1 sold 117,334 units
- X-Men #2 sold 95,227 units
- Wolverine #15 sold 59,897 units
- Hellions #14 sold 36,284 units
- Way of X #5 sold 35,449 units
- X-Force #22 sold 34,149 units
- Cable Reloaded #1 sold 31,775 units
- X-Men Legends #6 sold 31,775 units
- Marauders #23 sold 29,960 units
- Children of the Atom #6 sold 24,695 units
- X-Corp #4 sold 23,750 units
The X-Men franchise is similar to the Spider-Man franchise. The flagship title in X-Men continues to be a sales beast. X-Men Trial of Magneto #1 also posted a large sales number. However, things get less rosy for the X-Men franchise when you get away from the flagship title.
Wolverine #15 posted a solid sales number. But, after Wolverine? The sales numbers are not that impressive. Five of the X-Men franchise comics sold in the 30,000 unit range. Three of the X-Men franchise comics sold in the 20,000-unit range. So, eight out of the eleven X-Men franchise titles sold in the sub-40,000 unit range. This shows a real softening in the market for the X-Men going forward. It does not get any easier with Jonathan Hickman leaving the franchise. It will be interesting to track the X-Men franchise’s success with Hickman no longer actively guiding the franchise.
Avengers Franchise
- Thor #16 sold 72,375 units
- Immortal Hulk #49 sold 57,360 units
- Avengers #47 sold 41,359 units
- Avengers Annual #1 sold 36,863 units
- United States Captain America #3 32,997 units
- Black Widow #10 sold 29,276 units
- Captain Marvel #31 sold 28,830 units
- Avengers Tech-On #1 sold 26,794 units
- Iron Man #11 sold 25,268 units
- Savage Avengers #23 sold 22,444 units
The state of the Avengers franchise is rather embarrassing. Just compare this to how the Avengers franchise was back in the 2000s. Oh, how far the Avengers franchise has fallen.
Thor #16 is the only Avengers franchise title that posted a good sales number. Immortal Hulk #49 posted a solid sales number, but nothing to get excited about. The rest? A whole bunch of no bueño.
Avengers #47 just barely cracked the 40,000-unit level. This is simply inexcusable. Of course, given how unreadable this title has been the past several years I cannot say that I am that surprised.
United States Captain America #3 just barely cracked the 30,000-unit range. Marvel clearly underestimated the desire for this title among their readership. The remaining five Avengers franchise titles all posted sales numbers in the 20,00 unit range.
Marvel has a real problem on its hands with the Avengers franchise. There is zero excuse for the Avengers franchise to be in such a sorry state. Marvel clearly needs to address how to properly rebuild all these characters going forward.
Batman Franchise
- Batman ’89 #1 sold 134,000 units
- Batman #111 sold 118,000 units
- Batman Fear State Alpha #1 sold 98,000 units
- Joker #6 sold 78,000 units
- Batman Catwoman #6 sold 66,000 units
- Detective Comics #1041 sold 57,000 units
- Joker Presents A Puzzlebox sold 56,000 units
- Nightwing #83 sold 51,000 units
- I Am Batman #0 sold 49,000 units
- Robin #5 sold 47,000 units
- Harley Quinn 2021 Annual #1 sold 46,000 units
- Batman Urban Legends sold 43,000 units
- Detective Comics #1042 sold 43,000 units
- Future State Gotham #4 sold 38,000 units
- Batman Reptilian #3 sold 34,000 units
- Catwoman #34 sold 32,000 units
- Harley Quinn #6 sold 32,00 units
- Batman Superman 2021 Annual #1 sold 32,00 units
- Batman Secret Files Clownhunter #1 sold 31,000 units
- Batman Superman #21 sold 29,000 units
- Batman the Adventures Continue Season II #3 sold 27,000 units
- Legends of the Dark Knight #4 sold 27,00 units
- Pennyworth #1 sold 20,000 units
- Batman and Scooby-Doo Mysteries #5 sold 20,000 units
This is simply stunning. DC published 24 Batman franchise titles in a single month! And even with absolutely flooding the market with Batman franchise titles, DC still managed to have three titles sell 98,000 units or more, and eight titles sell over 50,000 units. That is impressive.
Equally impressive is that only five out of the twenty-four titles sold in the 20,000-unit range. It is absolutely insane how popular the Batman franchise is and how consistent the sales numbers are for these titles.
Superman Franchise
- Superman Son of Kal-El #2 sold 40,000 units
- Superman and the Authority #2 sold 35,000 units
- Superman ’78 #1 sold 33,000 units
- Action Comics #1034 29,000 units
- Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow #3 sold 28,000 units
- Superman vs. Lobo #1 sold 25,000 units
- Superman Red & Blue sold 21,000 units
Of course, once you get past the Batman franchise, everything goes downhill for DC Comics. The state of DC’s other franchise is deplorable.
The Superman franchise is in the dumpster right now. I have no confidence in DC’s direction for the Superman franchise going forward. Of course, you have DC’s act of complete desperation of making Jon Kent bisexual in the hopes that mainstream media attention will lead to increased sales. Except it won’t. And it never does. All DC will get is a nice pat on the head from the mainstream media and maybe a sales bump for one or two issues and then the title will be back in the dumpster. What is alarming is that DC Comics has no one in editorial who has real substantive solutions for what is currently plaguing the Superman franchise.
Justice League Franchise
- Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 sold 54,000 units
- Justice League #66 sold 48,000 units
- Green Lantern #5 sold 32,000 units
- Wonder Woman #77 sold 32,000 units
- Flash #773 sold 32,000 units
- Wonder Woman #778 sold 31,000 units
- Justice League Last Ride #4 sold 26,000 units
- Justice League Infinity #2 sold 19,000 units
- Sensational Wonder Woman #6 sold 17,000 units
- Wonder Woman Black & Gold #3 sold 12,000 units
- RWBY Justice League #5 sold 9,000 units
The Justice League franchise has fallen on hard times. DC Comics’ flagship team title is currently posting pedestrian sales numbers. Even more alarming is that Flash is selling in the low 30,000 unit range. There is no reason for the Flash franchise to be performing this poorly.
However, the most distressing aspect of this list is how terrible the Wonder Woman franchise is performing. It is unconscionable that Wonder Woman is barely breaking the 30,000-unit mark. Wonder Woman is the most iconic female superhero. And it is not even close. DC’s new plans for the Wonder Woman franchise have proven to be a complete failure so far. DC Comics needs to make some hard decisions and get the Wonder Woman franchise trending upward.
The Top Female Lead Titles
- Batman Catwoman #6 sold 66,000 units
- Harley Quinn 2021 Annual #1 sold 46,000 units
- Wonder Girl #3 sold 43,000 units
- Black Cat #9 sold 40,827 units
- Silk #5 sold 38,665 units
- Star Wars Doctor Aphra #13 sold 38,197 units
- Wonder Woman #777 sold 32,000 units
- Catwoman #34 sold 32,000 units
- Harley Quinn #6 sold 32,000 units
- Wonder Woman #778 sold 31,00 units
- Black Widow #10 sold 29,276 units
- Captain Marvel #31 sold 28,830 units
- Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow #3 sold 28,000 units
- Sensational Wonder Woman #6 sold 17,000 units
The sales numbers for the female lead titles are not that impressive. The best-selling title is not really a female lead title as Batman Catwoman co-stars DC Comics’ human ATM machine: Bruce Wayne.
DC Comics absolutely dominates the list of female lead titles by placing nine out of fourteen titles on this list. Marvel Comics only places five titles on this list. DC took the top three spots on this list. Marvel’s highest-selling female lead title was Black Cat #9 selling 40,827 units.
Wonder Girl #1 came in at the #4 spot in the May 2021 sales chart. Wonder Girl #2 then tumbled all the way down to the 29th spot and sold 53,000 units. Now we have Wonder Girl #3 falling down to the 49th spot selling 43,000 units. This is a fast drop for a title only on its third issue. I would expect Wonder Girl to be selling in the 30,000-unit range by the fourth issue and selling in the 20,000-unit range by the tenth issue.
Again, Wonder Woman needs to get some attention from DC Comics. It is shameful that Wonder Woman is being outsold by titles like Black Cat, Silk, and Doctor Aphra.
Once you get out of the top 4 titles, the majority of the remaining titles are selling in the pedestrian 30,000 unit range. The Dead Titles Walking of the female lead titles that are selling in the 20,000 unit range or less include Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Supergirl, and a Wonder Woman franchise title.
Of these titles, I would be stunned if Marvel canceled Captain Marvel. Sure, Carol Danvers has become a running joke. Marvel keeps shoving Carol down the throats of their readership and acting like there is a huge demand for the character. All the while, Carol’s title continues to sell like hot garbage no matter how many times it is canceled and restarted with a shiny new #1 issue. The fact is that Marvel needs to keep publishing a Captain Marvel title to keep DC Comics from swooping in to get that valuable Captain Marvel trademark that the Shazam franchise so mightily covets.
Kevin here at the Comic Book Revolution loves Black Widow. So, for Kevin’s sake, I hope Marvel does not cancel that title. I think Marvel will continue to subsidize Black Widow given the sorry state of the female lead titles. I mean, they only put four titles on this list.
As far as the two DC Comics Dead Titles Walking? Since Wonder Woman already has her main title I could see Sensational Wonder Woman getting axed. And since Supergirl is a part of the Superman franchise and not the Batman franchise I could see her title getting axed, too.
The Top Minority Lead Titles
- Darkhawk #1 sold 46,633 units
- Wonder Girl #3 sold 43,000 units
- Miles Morales Spider-Man #29 sold 39,005 units
- Silk #5 sold 38,665 units
- Star Wars Doctor Aphra #13 sold 38,197 units
- Miles Morales Spider-Man Annual #1 sold 34,614 units
- Hardware Season One #1 sold 27,000 units
- Miles Morales Marvel Tales #1 sold 18,285 units
- Static Shock Season One #3 sold 15,000 units
- Icon and Rocket Season One #2 sold 15,000 units
- America Chavez Made in USA #5 sold 13,724 units
- Mister Miracle The Source of Freedom #4 sold 13,000 units
There is not much good news for the minority lead titles from Marvel and DC Comics. Marvel placed seven titles out of twelve and DC placed five titles out of twelve. So, Marvel is doing a bit better than DC, but Marvel relied heavily on Miles Morales for three of their seven titles. On the other hand, DC spread its five titles out among five different franchises.
Darkhawk #1 is the debut of the new Asian version of Darkhark. This was not a great debut as Darkhawk #1 only posted a 46,633 sales number. I would expect this title to be in the 30,000-unit range by issue #2. Then Darkhawk will probably be in the 20,000-unit range by issue #5. Do not get too attached to this title. I do not think it will be around for that long.
Marvel’s America Chavez Made in the USA is already selling a pathetic 13,724 units in just the fifth issue. Marvel continues to demonstrate a willingness to roll out titles without regard to its possible sales success. Or, Marvel is just a really bad judge of what their readership wants in terms of product.
Unfortunately for DC, the Milestone titles are all dead on arrival. It is too bad given the legacy of Dwayne McDuffie. Static Shock in only his third issue is already selling at the 15,000 unit mark. Icon and Rocket in just the second issue is selling at the 15,000 unit mark. Hardware’s debut issue only snagged 27,000 units. This is a disastrous debut for the Milestone line of comics. I will be interested to see how long cash-strapped DC Comics will be willing to subsidize these titles.
DC has the lowest-selling title in this category with Mister Miracle The Source of Freedom #4 moving only 13,000 units. It is mystifying why DC thought the Shiloh Norman version of Mister Miracle was the wise choice for a title given the huge popularity of the Tom King-penned original Mister Miracle in Scott Free.
Dead Titles Walking
It used to be that titles under 40K units were dead titles walking. However, with the comic book market on its continual decline, the goalposts have moved. Titles under 30K units are now dead titles walking.
Marvel
- Marauders #23 sold 29,960 units
- Guardians of the Galaxy #17 sold 29,338 units
- Black Widow #10 sold 29,276 units
- Captain Marvel #31 sold 28,830 units
- Avengers Tech-On #1 sold 26,794 units
- Symbiote Spider-Man Crossroads #2 sold 25,570 units
- Iron Man #11 sold 25,268 units
- Children of the Atom #6 sold 24,695 units
- Web of Spider-Man #3 sold 24,459 units
- Winter Guard #1 sold 24,245 units
- Gamma Flight #3 sold 24,140 units
- X-Corp #4 sold 23,750 units
- Fantastic Four Life Story #3 sold 23,146 units
- Savage Avengers #23 sold 22,444 units
- The Marvels #4 sold 19,747 units
- Spider-Woman #14 sold 19,190 units
- Miles Morales Marvel Tales #1 sold 18,285 units
- Conan the Barbarian #24 sold 16,305 units
- America Chavez Made in USA #5 sold 13,724 units
- Trials of Ultraman #5 sold 10,508 units
- Runaways #38 sold 8,930 units
Marvel has 21 titles selling under 30,000 units. There are some surprising franchises selling in the 20,000-unit range. Despite the success in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, both Black Widow and Guardians of the Galaxy have proven to be rather unpopular. This continues to show that success in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has zero impact on the sales of comic books. I am not surprised that Guardians of the Galaxy is selling this poorly. Years ago, this was a great title. However, Marvel has lost the plot with the Guardians franchise for quite some time now.
As always, Captain Marvel continues to be the most overhyped character in Marvel history. Despite the full power of the Disney Hype Machine, this character continues to post poor sales numbers. However, there is zero chance Marvel ever declares defeat with this character. Plus, Marvel needs to keep that Captain Marvel trademark alive and well just to prevent DC from ever being able to regain it.
Iron Man #11 posted a terrible sales number. Again, see that MCU success has nothing to do with comic book success. The poor sales number for Iron Man continues to highlight how Marvel has completely bungled handling this franchise with multiple idiotic ideas over the past several years.
While Hickman’s X-Men has been a sales monster, the X-Men franchise is not bulletproof. I am not surprised that Marauders is not selling well. This has been a poor read since the start of that title. Children of the Atom is another title that has failed to impress from the very beginning. Ditto for X-Corp. I will be curious to see how long Marvel is willing to subsidize these X-Men franchise titles.
Marvel had 7 titles selling under 20,000 units. The Marvels #4 poor sales number shows that Marvel has driven this franchise into the ground to the point where nobody cares about it anymore.
Spider-Woman and America Chavez continue to be answers to questions that nobody was asking. The sales numbers for these two titles are beyond embarrassing. In a normal comic book market, both of these titles would already be canceled. I am curious to see how long Marvel is willing to subsidize both of these dead titles walking.
I am sad to see Trials of Ultraman among this list of dead titles walking. Ultraman is an iconic Japanese hero and is a proud franchise with a long and storied history. But, the fact remains that the sales numbers for this title are absolutely pathetic.
DC
- Batman Superman #21 sold 29,000 units
- Action Comics #1034 sold 29,000 units
- Suicide Squad #6 sold 29,000 units
- Teen Titans Academy sold 29,000 units
- Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow #3 sold 28,000 units
- Batman the Adventures Continue Season II #3 sold 27,000 units
- Legends of the Dark Knight #4 sold 27,00 units
- Hardware Season One #1 sold 27,000 units
- Justice League Last Ride #4 sold 26,000 units
- Superman vs Lobo #1 sold 25,000 units
- Shazam #2 sold 23,000 units
- DC Presents The Conjuring The Lover #3 sold 21,00 units
- Superman Red & Blue sold 21,000 units
- Pennyworth #1 sold 20,000 units
- Batman and Scooby-Doo Mysteries #5 sold 20,000 units
- Crush & Lobo #3 sold 19,000 units
- Justice League Infinity #2 sold 19,000 units
- Checkmate #3 sold 18,000 units
- Sensational Wonder Woman #6 sold 17,000 units
- Challenge of the Super Sons #5 sold 16,000 units
- American Vampire 1976 #10 sold 15,000 units
- Icon and Rocket Season One #2 sold 15,000 units
- Static Shock Season One #3 sold 15,000 units
- Mister Miracle The Source of Freedom #4 sold 13,000 units
- Midnight 2021 Annual #1 sold 13,000 units
- Truth & Justice #7 sold 12,000 units
- Wonder Woman Black & Gold #3 sold 12,000 units
- Dreaming Waking Hours #12 sold 9,000 units
- RWBY Justice League #5 sold 9,000 units
- Scooby-Doo Where Are You #111 sold 4,000 units
DC had far more dead titles walking than Marvel. DC posted 30 titles selling under 30,000 units. DC also posted a stunning 15 titles selling under 20,000 units. Mind-boggling.
This list of dead titles walking shows the serious problem that DC Comics has on its hands. What franchises do we find in the sub-30,000 unit range? Well, some big-time franchises. The Superman franchise, the Justice League franchise, and the Wonder Woman franchise.
It should be alarming to DC that the Superman franchise is posting such low sales numbers. Not even Batman can drive sales numbers for the Batman Superman title. DC’s strange decisions for the direction of the Superman franchise do not appear to be paying off at all for them.
Of course, the fact that DC has so many titles in the dead titles walking list is because they are publishing so many titles for an audience that simply does not exist. Crush & Lobo? Really? Who was asking for this? Teen Titans Academy? Why? Challenge of the Super Sons? Seriously? Superman v. Lobo? What? The return of Milestone comics? Nice try, but it clearly failed.
It does make me sad to see Shazam among the dead titles walking. I have always loved the Shazam Family. But, the fact remains that I am obviously in the minority because this title is simply not performing well at all.
All right, that is it for August 2021. Will manga continue its stranglehold on the Top 20 in September? We will find out!
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