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, the Top 200 single-issue comic sales chart are based on orders tracked by the ComicHub system at local comic book shops selling American comics. During the period for which these reports were generated, there were over 100 stores using the ComicHub system. As this is a small, non-random sample of over 3,000 stores selling American comics worldwide, these rankings may not be typical for all stores, but do represent a variety of locations and store emphases. 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.
JANUARY 2022 Top 200 Single Issue Comic Rankings
The Battle for the Top 10
- Spawn Scorched #1 (Image Comics)
- She-Hulk #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Batman #119 (DC Comics)
- Venom #4 (Marvel Comics)
- Hulk #3 (Marvel Comics)
- Inferno #4 (Of 4) (Marvel Comics)
- X Lives of Wolverine #1 (Marvel Comics)
- X-Men #6 (Marvel Comics)
- Thor #20 (Marvel Comics)
- Amazing Spider-Man #84 Beyond (Marvel Comics)
Oh, man. Looking at the sales rankings is not any better for DC Comics fans in January 2022 than it was in December 2021. Once again, Marvel just pummeled DC Comics into submission. Marvel placed a whopping eight titles in the Top 10.
Leading the way was She-Hulk #1! I was glad to see this title having such a strong debut number. Marvel should be rewarded for returning the real She-Hulk in this debut issue rather than the pathetic Hulk derivative character we got from Jason Aaron over in the Avengers.
Marvel continued to show great depth and diversity in their Top 10 titles. Marvel pulled from various franchises including She-Hulk, Hulk, Venom, Spider-Man, Thor, and the X-Men. That is damn impressive.
DC Comics placed one measly title in the Top 10. And, as always, that one title is from the Batman franchise. Bruce Wayne more specifically. This is just another brutally ugly month for DC Comics in the Top 10. They really have very little that gets readers excited.
Image was tied for second place with one title in the Top 10. The Spawn franchise continues to be very good to Image Comics. The Spawn franchise has been consistently posting impressive numbers with the debut issues of the various Spawn franchise titles.
The Battle for the Top 25
- Amazing Spider-Man #85 Beyond (Marvel Comics)
- Saga #55 (Image Comics)
- Daredevil Woman Without Fear #1 (Of 3) (Marvel Comics)
- Amazing Spider-Man #86 Beyond (Marvel Comics)
- X Deaths of Wolverine #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Dark Ages #4 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
- Moon Knight #7 (Marvel Comics)
- Silver Surfer Rebirth #1 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Dark Knights of Steel #3 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
- Ben Reilly Spider-Man #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Detective Comics #1047 (DC Comics)
- Thor #21 (Marvel Comics)
- Detective Comics #1050 (DC Comics)
- Death of Doctor Strange Bloodstone #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Joker #11 (DC Comics)
Marvel completely decimated DC Comics in the battle for the Top 25. It was a brutal one-sided beating. Marvel placed eighteen comics in the Top 25. Simply incredible.
Once again, Marvel’s utter dominance of the Top 25 displays an amazing diversity of titles. Marvel pulls from franchises from across their entire line of comic books.
Having said that, there were a few troubling signs for Marvel in the Top 25. I would expect that Marvel would have hoped that X Deaths of Wolverine #1 would have posted a stronger debut number than the number 15 spot. Also, it is a bit concerning that Thor dropped thirteen spots from 9 down to 22 with Thor #21.
DC Comics only managed to place a pathetic five titles in the Top 25. This is utterly embarrassing. This is even worse than how DC Comics performed in the December 2021 sales rankings.
As always, DC Comics’ five titles all came from the Batman franchise. Four of the five Batman franchise titles were Bruce Wayne centric titles.
Image came in last place with two titles in the Top 25.
The Battle for the Top 50
- Star Wars #20 (Marvel Comics)
- Detective Comics #1048 (DC Comics)
- X-Men #7 (Marvel Comics)
- Devils Reign #3 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
- Nocterra Special (Mature) (Image Comics)
- Mary Jane Black Cat Beyond #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Amazing Spider-Man #87 Beyond (Marvel Comics)
- Nightwing #88 (DC Comics)
- Star Wars High Republic Eye of Storm #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Silk #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Batman The Knight #1 (Of 10) (DC Comics)
- Spawn #325 (Image Comics)
- Detective Comics #1049 (DC Comics)
- Robin & Batman #3 (Of 3) (DC Comics)
- Star Wars High Republic #13 (Marvel Comics)
- Death of Doctor Strange #5 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Superman Son of Kal-El #6 (DC Comics)
- Department of Truth #15 (Image Comics)
- Elektra Black, White & Blood #1 (Of 4) (Marvel Comics)
- King Spawn #6 (Image Comics)
- Black Widow #13 (Marvel Comics)
- Amazing Spider-Man #83 Beyond (Marvel Comics)
- Marauders #27 (Marvel Comics)
- Strange Academy #15 (Marvel Comics)
- Avengers #52 (Marvel Comics)
With the number 40-50 spot, we historically begin to see titles selling in the 40K unit range.
Marvel Comics continued its path of destruction by placing thirty-three titles in the Top 50. Again, Marvel Comics pulled from a massive cross-section of franchises for their Top 50 success. It is truly the complete opposite of what DC Comics is experiencing in the Top 50.
Now, not everything is perfect for Marvel. Silk #1 had a disappointing sales debut ranking. Also, Death of Dr. Strange continues to be a massive disappointment for Marvel. Big events should do much better than the number 41 spot.
DC Comics placed only eleven titles in the Top 50. It is just brutally ugly. Ten of DC Comics’ eleven titles are from the Batman franchise. Eight of the ten Batman titles are Bruce Wayne centric. Only two of the ten Batman franchise titles center on other characters from the Batman family. The only non-Batman title in the Top 50 was Superman Son of Kal-El #6. We will touch on that title later in the article under the Superman Franchise heading.
DC Comics only placing eleven titles in the Top 50 should be totally unacceptable and embarrassing. The fact that ten of the eleven titles are from the Batman franchise highlights how DC Comics has completely mismanaged all of their other franchises. DC Comics has gutted all of their other franchises and run them into the ground. It is stunning.
Image had a nice showing by placing six titles in the Top 50. At the rate things are going maybe Image can make a run at actually beating DC Comics in the Top 50.
The Battle for the Top 75
- Devils Reign #2 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
- Timeless #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Darkhold Omega #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Captain Marvel #35 (Marvel Comics)
- Gunslinger Spawn #4 (Image Comics)
- Batman Catwoman Special #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)
- Fantastic Four #39 (Marvel Comics)
- Devils Reign X-Men #1 (Of 3) (Marvel Comics)
- DC Vs Vampires #4 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
- Devil’s Reign Superior Four #1 (Of 3) (Marvel Comics)
- Justice League Vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- Batgirls #2 (DC Comics)
- Superman Son of Kal-El #7 (DC Comics)
- Justice League Incarnate #3 (Of 5) (DC Comics)
- Robins #3 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- Miles Morales Spider-Man #34 (Marvel Comics)
- House of Slaughter #4 (BOOM! Studios)
- Captain America Iron Man #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Wastelanders Doom #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Hawkeye Kate Bishop #3 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Star Wars Doctor Aphra #17 (Marvel Comics)
- Death Doctor Strange X-Men Black Knight #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Harley Quinn The Animated Series The Eat Bang Kill Tour #5 (Of 6) (Mature) (DC Comics)
- Star Wars Bounty Hunters #20 (Marvel Comics)
- Catwoman #39 (DC Comics)
Historically, this is the part of the Sales Rankings where comics generally sell in the low 40,000 to the high to mid 30,000 unit range.
Marvel Comics continued to be a total beast as it placed forty-seven titles in the Top 75. Marvel’s forty-seven titles in the Top 75 is actually a touch higher than the forty-six titles that they placed in the Top 75 in December 2021.
DC Comics only managed to put nineteen comics in the Top 75. This is awful. This is also less than the twenty-two titles that DC placed in the Top 75 in December 2021. DC Comics just keeps sinking.
Of course, the Batman franchise accounted for fifteen of the nineteen titles in the Top 75 were from the Batman franchise. DC Comics only placed a mere four non-Batman franchise titles in the Top 75. This is simply untenable. DC Comics has left all of their other franchises to crumble to dust.
Image placed seven titles in the Top 75. Boom comics finally makes an appearance with one title in the Top 75.
The Battle for the Top 100
- Stray Dogs Dog Days #2 (Of 2) (Image Comics)
- Black Panther #3 (Marvel Comics)
- Eternals #9 (Marvel Comics)
- Primordial #5 (Of 6) (Image Comics)
- Defenders #5 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Savage Avengers #28 (Marvel Comics)
- Batman Urban Legends #11 (DC Comics)
- Death of Doctor Strange #4 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- I Am Batman #5 (DC Comics)
- Robin #10 (DC Comics)
- Avengers Forever #2 (Marvel Comics)
- Marauders Annual #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Stray Dogs Dog Days #1 (Of 2) (Image Comics)
- X-Men Legends #10 (Marvel Comics)
- Human Target #4 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
- Shang-Chi #7 (Marvel Comics)
- Wastelanders Black Widow #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #6 (Of 7) (DC Comics)
- Devil’s Reign Villains For Hire #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Amazing Spider-Man #82 Beyond (Marvel Comics)
- Justice League #71 (DC Comics)
- Detective Comics #1046 (DC Comics)
- Moon Knight #6 (Marvel Comics)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #125 (IDW Publishing)
- Whats The Furthest Place From Here #3 (Image Comics)
Historically, these are titles that usually are selling in the low 30,000 unit range into the high 20,000 unit range.
Marvel Comics totally owned the market by placing sixty titles in the Top 100. This is even better than December 2021 sales rankings where Marvel Comics placed fifty-six titles in the Top 100. Marvel has to be pleased.
DC Comics continued to disappoint. DC Comics only placed twenty-six titles in the Top 100. This is even worse than the December 2021 sales rankings where DC Comics placed thirty-one titles in the Top 100.
DC Comics’ overreliance on the Batman franchise continued as twenty of the twenty-six titles came from the Batman franchise. The six non-Batman franchise titles in the Top 100? Three from the Justice League franchise, two from the Superman franchise, and one from Human Target. This should be unacceptable to the brass at DC Comics.
Image managed to place ten titles in the Top 100. Boom and IDW placed one title each in the Top 100.
Debut Issues
- (1) Spawn Scorched #1 (Image Comics)
- (2) She-Hulk #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (7) X Lives of Wolverine #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (13) Daredevil Woman Without Fear #1 (Of 3) (Marvel Comics)
- (15) X Deaths of Wolverine #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (20) Ben Reilly Spider-Man #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (24) Death of Doctor Strange Bloodstone #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (31) Mary Jane Black Cat Beyond #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (34) Star Wars High Republic Eye of Storm #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (35) Silk #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (36) Batman The Knight #1 (Of 10) (DC Comics)
- (44) Elektra Black, White & Blood #1 (Of 4) (Marvel Comics)
- (52) Timeless #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (53) Darkhold Omega #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (58) Devils Reign X-Men #1 (Of 3) (Marvel Comics)
- (60) Devil’s Reign Superior Four #1 (Of 3) (Marvel Comics)
- (61) Justice League Vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- (69) Wastelanders Doom #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (72) Death Doctor Strange X-Men Black Knight #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (88) Stray Dogs Dog Days #1 (Of 2) (Image Comics)
- (92) Wastelanders Black Widow #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (94) Devil’s Reign Villains For Hire #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (134) Devils Reign Winter Soldier #1 (Marvel Comics)
The debut title that caught me eye the most was Silk #1 at the number 35 spot. That is a disappointing number for a debut issue. This also highlights that most of the Spider-Man franchise’s strength is powered by Amazing Spider-Man and Venom. I would suspect that Silk drops out of the Top 50 by the second issue and then drops out of the Top 75 by the third issue.
Marvel Comics’ Devils Reign tie-in titles and Wastelanders titles continue to post unimpressive sales rankings.
Over on the DC Comics side, Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #1 posted a sad sales rank at the number 61 spot. This title is going to quickly drop out of the Top 100 by the third issue. Again, there is no interest in Brian Bendis’ Legion of Super-Heroes. It remains a complete mystery why DC Comics felt the need to reboot the Legion for a ridiculous fourth time. Not even pairing the Justice League up with Bendis’ Legion could generate much interest. Of course, much of this is a problem with Bendis himself. Bendis has been a huge disappointment for DC Comics as he has been unable to generate any sales success with his tenure at DC Comics.
Big Events
- (6) Inferno #4 (Of 4) (Marvel Comics)
- (16) Dark Ages #4 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
- (29) Devils Reign #3 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
- (41) Death of Doctor Strange #5 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (51) Devils Reign #2 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
The law of diminishing returns continues to rear its head when it comes to big events. Marvel Comics has played the big event car way too many time to the point where readers are totally numb to any big event.
Inferno is the only big event posting legit big event sales rankings. Dark Ages continues to be good, but not spectacular.
Devils Reign has had average success. Meanwhile, Death of Doctor Strange ended with a thud posting a low sales ranking for a big event title. Readers are exhausted with pointless “shocking” death that lead to the replacement of an iconic male character with a derivative female character.
Star Wars Franchise
- (26) Star Wars #20 (Marvel Comics)
- (34) Star Wars High Republic Eye of Storm #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (40) Star Wars High Republic #13 (Marvel Comics)
- (71) Star Wars Doctor Aphra #17 (Marvel Comics)
- (74) Star Wars Bounty Hunters #20 (Marvel Comics)
- (103) Star Wars Doctor Aphra #18 (Marvel Comics)
- (129) Star Wars Darth Vader #19 (Marvel Comics)
- (130) Star Wars High Republic Adventures #12 (IDW Publishing)
- (135) Star Wars High Republic Trail Shadows #4 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (138) Star Wars Bounty Hunters #19 (Marvel Comics)
- (197) Star Wars High Republic #12 (Marvel Comics)
- (200) Star Wars Crimson Reign #1 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
The Star Wars franchise took a dip compared to the December 2021 sales rankings where the top two Star Wars titles were in the number 12 and number 20 spots. In January 2022, the best selling Star Wars title was in the number 26 spot.
Star Wars Darth Vader #19, Star Wars Crimson Reign #1, Star Wars High Republic #12, and Star Wars Bounty Hunters #19 were old re-orders since these titles all shipped in December. Marvel has to be pleased with this number of re-orders.
The main Star Wars title continues to be one of the strongest Star Wars titles. The High Republic initiative continues to deliver mixed results. Star Wars High Republic is a solid but not stellar seller. The IDW High Republic Adventures continues to get poor sales rankings. Marvel Comics’ Star Wars High Republic Trail Shadows has also been a poor performer.
Spider-Man Franchise
- (10) Amazing Spider-Man #84 Beyond
- (11) Amazing Spider-Man #85 Beyond
- (14) Amazing Spider-Man #86 Beyond
- (20) Ben Reilly Spider-Man #1
- (31) Mary Jane Black Cat Beyond #1
- (32) Amazing Spider-Man #87 Beyond
- (35) Silk #1
- (47) Amazing Spider-Man #83 Beyond
- (66) Miles Morales Spider-Man #34
- (95) Amazing Spider-Man #82 Beyond
- (101) Venom #3
- (102) Venom #1
- (111) Spider-Woman #18
- (159) Amazing Spider-Man #81 Beyond
Venom #1 and Venom #3 are both re-orders as there was no new Venom issue in January 2022. It is impressive how strong the new Venom title has been in the sales rankings.
The sales rankings for January 2022 were completely dominated by Amazing Spider-Man. It is rather impressive that a title that cranks out three issues a month can still post such high sales rankings. Ben Reilly Spider-Man #1 had a solid debut. Mary Jane Black Cat Beyond #1 had an average debut.
The rest of the Spider-Man franchise titles were not that impressive. Miles Morales is stuck in his usual range with a number 66 ranking. Spider-Woman continues to be a weak title with another bad sales ranking at the number 111 spot.
X-Men Franchise
- (6) Inferno #4 (Of 4)
- (7) X Lives of Wolverine #1
- (8) X-Men #6
- (15) X Deaths of Wolverine #1
- (28) X-Men #7
- (48) Marauders #27
- (58) Devils Reign X-Men #1 (Of 3)
- (87) Marauders Annual #1
- (89) X-Men Legends #10
- (126) Trial of Magneto #5 (5 of 5)
- (152) Wolverine #19
- (171) Phoenix Song Echo #4 (Of 5)
Wolverine #19 and Trial of Magneto #5 were both re-orders. Marvel is sure to be pleased with those sales rankings for re-order issues.
Inferno ended on a high note with an impressive number 6 sales ranking. X Lives of Wolverine #1 had a great debut number. X Deaths of Wolverine #1 had a nice debut number. So, Marvel Comics is certainly happy with these three tittles.
However, there may be some troubling signs ahead as Hickman is now gone from the X-Men franchise. X-Men #6 posted a great sales ranking at the number 8 spot. However, this title fell off a cliff as X-Men #7 came in down at the number 28 ranking. That is a huge twenty spot fall from grace. It is going to be interesting to see how the flagship title performs in the post-Hickman era.
The rest of the X-titles are nothing to notice. Marauders continues is gradual month-to-month decline. Phoenix Song Echo continues to be a complete and total flop. A 171 ranking is hideous. There is no way that it is selling more than the 10,000-15,000 unit range. This is simply an unoriginal title that nobody was asking for.
Avengers Franchise
- (2) She-Hulk #1
- (5) Hulk #3
- (7) Thor #20
- (22) Thor #21
- (46) Black Widow #13
- (50) Avengers #52
- (54) Captain Marvel #35
- (68) Captain America Iron Man #2 (Of 5)
- (77) Black Panther #3
- (81) Savage Avengers #28
- (86) Avengers Forever #2
- (105) Iron Man #16
- (125) Hulk #2
- (136) Hulk #1
- (145) Captain America Iron Man #3 (Of 5)
- (150) Avengers Forever #1
- (170) Avengers #51
Hulk #1, Hulk #2, Avengers Forever #1, and Avengers #51 were all reorders. It really shows how popular the new Hulk title has been with readers. And speaking of the Hulk, thank goodness for the Hulk franchise and the Thor franchise for carrying the banner for the Avengers related characters. Hulk continues to crush the sales rankings. Hulk’s cousin She-Hulk follows a similar path by posting an amazing sales ranking at the number 2 spot. What a wonderful job Marvel has done with both Hulk and She-Hulk. It is great to see the Hulk franchise thriving.
Thor #20 grabbed an impressive sales rankings. However, it is a bit concerning that Thor #21 dropped 15 spots in the sales rankings.
The Avengers titles continue to be disappointing as Avengers #52 only got a number 50 sales ranking. Having said that, Avengers #52 did come in a full 22 spots higher than Avengers #51 did in December 2022. So, maybe better times are ahead for the Avengers flagship title.
Savage Avengers continues to be a weak title. However, at least things are trending upward as Savage Avengers #28 came in forty-seven spots higher than it did in December 2021.
Captain American Iron Man continues to drop like a rock. This title has gone from the number 44 spot with the first issue to the number 68 spot with the second issue and then the third issue at the number 145 spot. Oof. Talk about readers telling Marvel Comics that they are not impressed with what Marvel is offering with this title. That is just awful.
Iron Man continues to be a meh seller as it finished outside the Top 100 once again. It is a shame how poorly Marvel Comics has handled the Iron Man franchise.
The new Black Panther title continues to drop like a rock. Black Panther #2 had a number 54 sales ranking in December 2021. Black Panther #3 continues the stop all the way down to the number 77 spot. I would expect Black Panther to drop out of the Top 100 in another two months.
Batman Franchise
- (3) Batman #119
- (19) Dark Knights of Steel #3 (Of 12)
- (21) Detective Comics #1047
- (23) Detective Comics #1050
- (25) Joker #11
- (27) Detective Comics #1048
- (33) Nightwing #88
- (36) Batman The Knight #1 (Of 10)
- (38) Detective Comics #1049
- (39) Robin & Batman #3 (Of 3)
- (56) Batman Catwoman Special #1 (One-Shot)
- (62) Batgirls #2
- (65) Robins #3 (Of 6)
- (73) Harley Quinn The Animated Series The Eat Bang Kill Tour #5 (Of 6)
- (75) Catwoman #39
- (82) Batman Urban Legends #11
- (84) I Am Batman #5
- (85) Robin #10
- (93) Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #6 (Of 7)
- (97) Detective Comics #1046
- (116) Batman #118
- (118) Future State Gotham #9
- (122) Arkham City the Order of the World #4 (0 Of 6)
- (137) Task Force Z #4
- (144) Batman One Dark Night #1 (Of 3)
- (146) Robin #9
- (151) Batman Catwoman #9 (Of 12)
- (155) Nightwing #87
- (160) Batman vs Bigby a Wolf in Gotham #5 (Of 6)
- (172) Harley Quinn #10
- (194) Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #10 (Of 12)
- (198) Batgirls #1
That is a long list of titles right there! The Batman franchise accounted for thirty-two titles out of DC Comics’ fifty-seven titles in the Top 200. DC Comics is truly the Batman Comics Company these days.
What is interesting to note is that Batman franchise titles that star any character not named Bruce Wayne have limited success. The Joker and Dick Grayson are the only non-Bruce Wayne characters with any kind of real success. Everyone else is posting average to below average sales rankings.
Batgirl fell off a cliff in spectacular fashion. Batgirls #1 had a number 18 sales ranking in December 2021. Batgirls #2 crashed and burned all the way down to the number 62 spot. That is a massive drop of forty-four slots. I am not feeling bullish about Batgirls going forward. There is a good chance that Batgirls drops out of the Top 100 in a couple of months.
Robin and Catwoman continue to get their usual pedestrian sales rankings. Harley Quinn’s two titles were not that impressive. The Animated Series Harley Quinn title continues to get meh sales rankings. Meanwhile, the regular Harley Quinn title sales ranking is totally abysmal.
Superman Franchise
- (42) Superman Son of Kal-El #6
- (63) Superman Son of Kal-El #7
- (104) Action Comics #1039
- (106) Superman & Robin Special #1 (One Shot)
- (112) Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow #7 (Of 8)
- (177) Action Comics #1038
Well, well, well, look at what we have here. I hate to say I told you so…nah, that’s a lie. I love to say I told you so! I wrote about Superman Son of Kal-El #5 and said that DC Comics would get the typical sales bump due to speculators, but that Superman Son of Kal-El would then crash and burn. That is exactly what happened.
Superman Son of Kal-El #5 took the number 6 spot in the November 2021 sales rankings. Superman Son of Kal-El #6 plummeted thirty-six spots all the way down to the number 42 position. Then Superman Son of Kal-El #7 dropped another twenty-one posts down to the number 63 position.
Like I said, after this blatant sales stunt, Superman Son of Kal-El will probably drop out of the Top 100 in another two months. Which is exactly where this title was back in September 2021. It is not that hard to figure out what will succeed with readers and what will fail. DC Comics is either frighteningly dumb or simply willfully obtuse. Either way, It is obvious that what DC Comics does not have a clue what their readership desires.
The rest of the Superman franchise is a dumpster fire. There is nothing good to be found here. It is shocking to see how DC Comics has let the most iconic super hero in the history of comics completely waste away into nothing.
Wonder Woman Franchise
- (115) Wonder Girl #7
- (139) Wonder Woman #783
- (193) Nubia and the Amazons #4 (Of 6)
Wonder Woman is another icon who has been horribly mismanaged by DC Comics. The Wonder Woman franchise is a complete mess and there is nothing good to be found here at all.
Wonder Girl was a bad gamble that blew up in DC Comics’ face. Betty Cloonan and Vita Ayala have been complete failures on Wonder Woman. Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala have been total failures on Nubia and the Amazons. DC Comics needs to fire the editor in charge of the Wonder Woman franchise and fire all of these writers. The Wonder Woman franchise needs a full restart, because the current creative teams and direction for this franchise have failed in every possible way.
The sales rankings for Wonder Woman are inexcusable. There is no reason why the most iconic female super hero is barely able to avoid being out of the Top 150 comics. This is atrocious.
It is even worse for Nubia and the Amazons #4. That title barely even made it into the Top 200 comics! I have no idea what DC Comics thinks their readers want with the Wonder Woman franchise, but this current plan clearly is not what readers want.
Justice League Franchise
- (61) Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (Of 6)
- (64) Justice League Incarnate #3 (Of 5)
- (96) Justice League #71
- (132) Green Lantern #10
- (140) The Flash #778
- (143) Justice League #70
- (176) Flash #777
- (196) Justice League Infinity #7 (Of 7)
We already addressed the abysmal debut ranking for Bendis’ Legion. DC Comics needs to correct course and just forget the Bendis Legion as a bad idea from an over-the-hill writer and bring back the real Legion already.
The rest of the sales rankings for the Justice League are terrible. Joshua Williamson continues to fail to get anyone excited in his Justice League Incarnate. None of this bodes well for Williamson’s upcoming Dark Crisis.
Bendis’ Justice League continues to be a failure. The sooner DC Comics can move past Bendis the better. Hiring Bendis turned out to be a massive disappointment for DC Comics.
The Green Lantern franchise continues to be a total mess. DC Comics’ handling of Green Lantern makes zero sense. And, evidently, readers agree.
The Flash franchise is also on life support. The direction for the Flash franchise spinning out of Dark Nights: Death Metal has been unpopular with readers.
The Top Female Lead Titles
- (2) She-Hulk #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (13) Daredevil Woman Without Fear #1 (Of 3) (Marvel Comics)
- (31) Mary Jane Black Cat Beyond #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (35) Silk #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (44) Elektra Black, White & Blood #1 (Of 4) (Marvel Comics)
- (46) Black Widow #13 (Marvel Comics)
- (54) Captain Marvel #35 (Marvel Comics)
- (62) Batgirls #2 (DC Comics)
- (70) Hawkeye Kate Bishop #3 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (71) Star Wars Doctor Aphra #17 (Marvel Comics)
- (73) Harley Quinn The Animated Series The Eat Bang Kill Tour #5 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- (75) Catwoman #39 (DC Comics)
- (111) Spider-Woman #18 (Marvel Comics)
- (112) Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow #7 (Of 8) (DC Comics)
- (115) Wonder Girl #7 (DC Comics)
- (132) Green Lantern #10 (DC Comics)
- (139) Wonder Woman #783 (DC Comics)
- (142) Harley Quinn #11 (DC Comics)
- (161) Ms Marvel Beyond Limit #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (163) Hell Sonja #1 (Dynamite Entertainment)
- (183) Lady Mechanika Monster of Ministry #2 (Of 4) (Image Comics)
- (171) Phoenix Song Echo #4 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (189) Buffy Last Vampire Slayer #2 (Of 4) (BOOM! Studios)
- (193) Nubia And The Amazons #4 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
Marvel Comics killed DC Comics in terms of female lead titles. Marvel Comics had nine of the Top 10 female lead titles. The only Top 10 female lead title that DC Comics had was Batgirls. This should never happen to DC Comics given their amazing stable of female super heroes.
Once you get out of the Top 6 female lead titles the sales rankings sink into the mediocre territory and quickly go downhill from there.
The Top Minority Lead Titles
- (35) Silk #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (66) Miles Morales Spider-Man #34 (Marvel Comics)
- (71 ) Star Wars Doctor Aphra #17 (Marvel Comics)
- (77) Black Panther #3 (Marvel Comics)
- (91) Shang-Chi #7 (Marvel Comics)
- (107) Marvels Voices Heritage #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (115) Wonder Girl #7 (DC Comics)
- (132) Green Lantern #10 (DC Comics)
- (153) Darkhawk #5 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (161) Ms Marvel Beyond Limit #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (171) Phoenix Song Echo #4 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (174) Static Season One #5 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- (193) Nubia And The Amazons #4 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- (195) Icon & Rocket Season One #5 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
Marvel Comics crushed DC Comics in the Top 10 minority lead tittles. It was not even close. Marvel Comics had eight of the Top 10. DC Comics only had two. And one of those DC Comics titles is getting canceled. DC Comics has some real ground to catch up here.
Of course, none of these titles got any impressive sales rankings. Other than Silk, the sales rankings ranged from average to terrible.
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
105 Iron Man #16
107 Marvels Voices Heritage #1
111 Spider-Woman #18
119 King Conan #2 (Of 6)
121 The Thing #3 (Of 6)
134 Devils Reign Winter Soldier #1
135 Star Wars High Republic Trail Shadows #4 (Of 5)
145 Captain America Iron Man #3 (Of 5)
148 The Marvels #7
153 Darkhawk #5 (Of 5)
161 Ms Marvel Beyond Limit #2 (Of 5)
1171 Phoenix Song Echo #4 (Of 5)
Marvel had twelve dead titles walking in the 101-200 range. This is much better than December 2021 where Marvel placed twenty-three titles in this category. The dead titles walking category has the same usual suspects that we have seen over the past several months.
DC Comics
104 Action Comics #1039
109 DC Horror Presents Soul Plumber #4 (Of 6)
110 DC Vs Vampires #3 (Of 12)
112 Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow #7 (Of 8)
115 Wonder Girl #7
118 Future State Gotham #9
122 Arkham City the Order of the World #4 (Of 6)
123 Suicide Squad #11
128 Titans United #5 (Of 7)
132 Green Lantern #10
137 Task Force Z #4
139 Wonder Woman #783
140 The Flash #778
141 Human Target #3 (Of 12)
142 Harley Quinn #11
143 Justice League #70
151 Batman Catwoman #9 (Of 12)
157 Superman 78 #6 (Of 6)
160 Batman vs Bigby A Wolf In Gotham #5 (Of 6)
164 Blue & Gold #5 (Of 8)
165 Deathstroke Inc. #5
167 One-Star Squadron #2 (Of 6)
172 Harley Quinn #10
174 Static Season One #5 (Of 6)
179 Crush & Lobo #8 (Of 8)
182 Teen Titans Academy #11
192 Suicide Squad King Shark #5 (Of 6)
193 Nubia And The Amazons #4 (Of 6)
194 Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #10 (Of 12)
195 Icon & Rocket Season One #5 (Of 6)
196 Justice League Infinity #7 (Of 7)
DC Comics blew past Marvel Comics and placed thirty-one titles in the 101-200 range. DC Comics only placed twenty-six titles in the Top 100. This means that a stunning 54% of DC Comics’s titles in January 2022 were in the dead titles walking category. This is the same as it was in December 2021. The outlook continues to look grim for DC Comics.
All right, that is it for January 2022! Will Marvel Comics continue their domination of the Top 200 in February 2022? We will find out!
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