It is time to check out the November 2023 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.
ICv2 has respectfully asked that we not publish their sales rankings here on our website. So, you can check out the Top 50 for November 2023 for free or opt for a pro membership and get the Top 200 for November 2023 over on ICv2 and then come back here for a detailed analysis of the November 2023 sales rankings!
November 2023 Top 200 Single Issue Comic Rankings
The Battle for the Top 10
Marvel Comics put six comics in the Top 10. Month-over-month sales were up over the five comics that Marvel Comics had in the Top 10 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were flat as Marvel Comics also had six comics in the Top 10 in November 2022.
The diversity of titles in the Top 10 for Marvel Comics lessened in November 2023. Four of Marvel Comics’ six comics were from the Spider-Man franchise. One title was from the X-Men franchise and one title was Ultimate Universe #1. Normally, Marvel Comics has a good diversity of franchises in their sales success. Marvel Comics needs to avoid being too reliant on one franchise to power their Top 10 success. This could be just an off month so we will keep an eye on this over the next few months.
DC Comics had two comics in the Top 10. Month-over-month sales were down from the four comics that DC Comics had in the Top 10 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also down from the four comics that DC Comics had in the Top 10 in November 2022.
Of course, both of DC Comics’s two titles were from the Batman franchise and both starred Bruce Wayne.
Image Comics had one comic in the Top 10. Month-over-month sales were flat as Image Comics also had one company in the Top 10 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up as Image Comics had zero comics in the Top 10 in November 2022.
Transformers #2 barely dropped falling from the number 1 spot to the number 4 spot. This is amazing! The Transformers have been rejuvenated with Image Comics wrestling the license away from IDW Publishing. It is going to be interesting to see if the Transformers can become a sustained sales success. This is a beloved franchise and it is wonderful to see it making such a dramatic comeback.
Vault Comics had one comic in the Top 10 with Unnatural Order #1 which took the number 10 spot. This comic was offered free to retailers giving them little risk but plenty of reward. Retailers were allowed to either give it away or sell it. This is a four-issue mini-series by Christopher Yost. I will be curious to see how this mini-series does throughout its run.
The Battle for the Top 25
Based on historical numbers from the Comichron as well as projections through April 2022, the titles in the numbers 11-25 range typically sell in the 65,000 to 50,000 unit range.
Marvel Comics had fifteen comics in the Top 25. Month-over-month sales were flat as Marvel Comics also had fifteen comics in the Top 25 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up over the twelve comics that Marvel Comics had in the Top 25 in November 2022.
Daredevil #3 climbed up from the number 17 spot to the number 14 spot. This is still below the last volume of Daredevil which averaged the number 9 spot during its run. However, this is a positive sign to see Daredevil creep back up in the sales rankings.
DC Comics had an embarrassing five comics in the Top 25. Month-over-month sales were down sharply from the nine comics that DC Comics had in the Top 25 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also down dramatically from the eleven comics that DC Comics had in the Top 25 in November 2022.
This is an awful sign. We already knew that Dawn of DC was failing. But, this Top 25 disaster is further proof that DC Comcis’ latest effort to rescue their comic books is failing.
Three of the five DC Comics’ issues in the Top 25 were from the Batman franchise and starred Bruce Wayne. Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #2 and Wonder Woman #3 were the only non-Bruce Wayne titles in the Top 25.
Image Comics had four comics in the Top 25. Month-over-month sales were up over the one comic that Image Comics had in the Top 25 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also up over the one comic that Image Comics had in the Top 25 in November 2022.
All of Image Comics’ newfound Top 25 success comes directly from their new Hasbro licenses. Transformers #1 came in at the number 17 spot. This is phenomenal for a resolicitation of an issue from October 2023.
GI Joe A Real American Hero #301 came in at the number 18 spot. GI Joe did not enjoy the same success as the Transformers franchise. However, that is to be expected since Image Comics chose to pick up right where GI Joe A Real American Hero ended with its IDW Publishing run from months ago. This approach was always going to lead to less success than the full reboot that Image Comics delivered with the Transformers. Still, this is an excellent number for GI Joe.
Deviant #1 came in at the number 19 spot and was the only non-Hasbro Image Comics title in the Top 25. Deviant is a new nine-issue limited series from James Tynion, IV.
Vault Comics had one comic in the Top 25.
The Battle for the Top 50
Based on historical numbers from the Comichron as well as projections through April 2022, the titles in the numbers 26-50 range typically sell in the 49,000 to 30,000 unit range.
Marvel Comics had thirty-two issues in the Top 50. Month-over-month sales were flat as Marvel Comics also had thirty-two issues in the Top 50 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up slightly over the thirty-one issues that Marvel Comics had in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Fantastic Four #13 dropped from the number 24 spot to the number 35 spot. This is about what we should expect from Fantastic Four as it continues to bob in and out of the Top 25 every month. This continues to be a great place in the rankings for the Fantastic Four.
DC Comics had a mere twelve issues in the Top 50. Month-over-month sales were down from the fourteen issues that DC Comics had in the Top 50 in October 2023. This is now two straight months that DC Comics has had a decline in the number of issues in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were also down from the seventeen issues that DC Comics had in the Top 50 in November 2022.
The failure of the Dawn of DC initiative continues to be evident. The fact that DC Comics is down by a wide margin in the Top 50 based on year-over-year numbers is alarming. After all, a year ago we were sounding the alarm over how poorly DC Comics was performing. For DC Comics to be performing even worse a year later and with the Dawn of DC in full swing is horrendous. DC Comics should be in a full five-alarm panic at this point.
Image Comics had five issues in the Top 50. Month-over-month sales were up from the four issues that Image Comics had in the Top 50 in October 2023. However, year-over-year numbers were down from the six issues that Image Comics had in the Top 50 in November 2022.
The Hasbro titles powered Image Comics’ Top 50 success as four of Image Comics’ five issues came from the Hasbro Universe.
Void Rivals #6 ticked up from the number 45 spot to the number 41 spot. This is fantastic to see as it appears that Void Rivals has the potential to be a consistent Top 50 title every month. This would be a huge win for Image Comics.
Vault Comics had one comic in the Top 50.
The Battle for the Top 75
Based on historical numbers from the Comichron as well as projections through April 2022, the titles in the numbers 51-75 range typically sell in the 29,000 to 25,000 unit range.
Marvel Comics had forty-six issues in the Top 75. Month-over-month sales were up slightly over the forty-five issues that Marvel Comics had in the Top 75 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also up over the forty-three issues that Marvel Comics had in the Top 75 in November 2022.
Doctor Strange #9 fell from the number 40 spot down to the number 55 spot. this is not unusual as Doctor Strange has been dipping in and out of the Top 50 recently. The next few months will be instructive to see if Doctor Strange no longer has the legs to remain a Top 50 title consistently.
Ghost Rider #20 dipped from the number 63 spot to the number 65 spot. This is the second straight decline for Ghost Rider. However, the decline has been incredibly small. Ghost Rider #18 started the slide and came in at the number 61 spot. Since these declines have been so small there is a good chance that Ghost Rider remains in the 61-69 range or even ticks up slightly.
DC Comics had just nineteen issues in the Top 75. Month-over-month sales were down sharply from the twenty-four issues that DC Comics had in the Top 75 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also down by a wide margin from the twenty-five issues that DC Comics had in the Top 75 in November 2022.
Again, the failure of the Dawn of DC initiative is evident in these Top 75 numbers. The fact that DC Comics is performing so badly compared to a year ago is stunning.
Image Comics had eight issues in the Top 75. Month-over-month sales were up over the five issues that Image Comics had in the Top 75 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also up from the six issues that Image Comics had in the Top 75 in November 2022.
Five of Image Comics’ eight issues came from the Hasbro Universe. Two of Image Comics’ eight issues came from the Universal Monsters franchise. Licensed properties made up seven of Image Comics’ eight issues. It is remarkable to see that licensed properties have come to the rescue to power Image Comics’ sales success. Before getting the Hasbro licenses, Image Comics only had the Spawn franchise to occasionally score them big sales success. Getting the Hasbro licenses is paying dividends for Image Comics since their niche creator-owned titles have limited mass appeal and struggle to attain big sales rankings.
Universal Monsters Dracula #2 dropped from the number 50 spot to the number 69 spot. That is a rather small drop and not bad for a second issue of a four-issue mini-series. The resolicitation of Universal Monsters Dracula #1 came in at the number 66 spot. That is an excellent sales ranking for an issue from October 2023.
GI Joe A Real American Hero #1 was a one-shot issue that scored the number 68 spot. This is nowhere near as impressive as the success of GI Joe: A Real American Hero, Transformers, or Void Rivals. But, it is still a Top 75 result and one of the better-selling titles for Image Comics.
Vault Comics and DSTLRY tied with one comic apiece in the Top 75.
The Battle for the Top 100
Based on historical numbers from the Comichron as well as projections through April 2022, the titles in the numbers 76-100 range typically sell in the 24,000 to 18,000 unit range.
Marvel Comics had fifty-seven issues in the Top 100. Month-over-month sales were flat as Marvel Comics also had fifty-seven issues in the Top 100 in October 2023. This is the third straight month of flat sales for Marvel Comics. Year-over-year numbers were just slightly up over the fifty-six issues that Marvel Comics had in the Top 100 in November 2022.
DC Comics had only twenty-five issues in the Top 100. Month-over-month sales were down by a wide margin from the thirty issues that DC Comics had in the Top 100 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also down by a large number from the thirty-three issues that DC Comics had in the Top 100 in November 2022.
The Dawn of DC initiative is officially dead. The fact that DC Comics is dramatically underperforming in their year-to-year numbers is all the proof we need. And keep in mind that we were all commenting that DC Comics was performing poorly a year ago and desperately needed to shake things up. Well, I am sad to see that Dawn of DC has led to even worse sales numbers for DC Comics.
However, this should not be a surprise at all. The Dawn of DC initiative was mere window dressing that did not address the real problems with DC Comics which are the writers and editors that have no business working for one of the two premier superhero comic book publishers. Until DC Comics finally cleans house in the editorial staff and then starts making smarter decisions concerning the writers that they hire I do not see anything getting better for them.
Image Comics had twelve comics in the Top 100. Month-over-month sales were up over the nine issues that Image Comics had in the Top 100 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also up over the seven issues that Image Comics had in the Top 100 in November 2022.
We finally get to the Spawn franchise titles at this point in the sales rankings. King Spawn #27 tumbles from the number 44 spot down to the number 77 spot. Spawn #347 took the number 84 spot. Spawn Scorched #23 fell from the number 68 spot to the number 89 spot.
BOOM! Studios had two issues in the Top 100. Month-over-month numbers were flat as BOOM! Studios also had just two issues in the Top 100 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were down from the three issues that BOOM! Studios had in the Top 100 in November 2022.
Vault Comics, IDW Publishing, and Dark Horse Comics all had one issue apiece in the Top 100.
The Joshua Williamson Award For The Writer With The Most Titles In The Top 50
Two writers scored two issues from the same title in the Top 50 in November 2023.
Simon Spurrier had two issues of the same title with Uncanny Spider-Man #3 at the number 24 spot and Uncanny Spider-Man #4 at the number 42 spot.
Ram V. had Detective Comics #1076 at the number 23 spot and Detective Comics #1077 at the number 33 spot.
Then there was Zeb Wells who had three issues of the same title in the Top 50 with Amazing Spider-Man #37 at the number 2 spot, Amazing Spider-Man #38 at the number 8 spot, and Amazing Spider-Man #36 at the number 40 spot.
Several writers had two issues from different titles in the Top 50.
Torunn Grønbekk had two issues with Venom #27 at the number 19 spot and Carnage #1 at the number 26 spot.
Joshua Williamson had two issues with Batman And Robin #3 at the number 38 spot and Superman #8 at the number 45 spot.
Gerry Duggan had two issues with X-Men #28 at the number 5 spot and Uncanny Avengers #4 at the number 30 spot.
Al Ewing had two issues with Immortal Thor #4 at the number 16 spot and X-Men Red #17 at the number 31 spot.
Chip Zdarsky had two issues with Batman #139 at the number 3 spot and Batman Catwoman The Gotham War Scorched Earth #1 at the number 7 spot.
Jonathan Hickman had two issues with Ultimate Universe #1 at the number 6 spot and G.O.D.S. #2 at the number 15 spot.
Dan Slott had two issues with Spider-Boy #1 at the number 1 spot and Superior Spider-Man #1 at the number 9 spot. Dan Slott also receives the honor of being the only writer to place two different ongoing titles in the Top 10. Impressive indeed.
However, once again, all of the writers in this category fell victim to the blood-thirsty sales beast known as Benjamin Percy! Percy placed four issues from three different titles in the Top 50! Percy had Predator Vs. Wolverine #3 at the number 27 spot, Wolverine #39 at the number 36 spot, X-Force #46 at the number 44 spot, and Predator Vs. Wolverine #2 at the number 49 spot.
Therefore, the winner of the Joshua Williamson Award for November 2023 is…Benjamin Percy! This makes it a stunning three months in a row that Percy has won this award! Phenomenal!
Battle of the Franchises
The Spider-Man franchise took first place with four titles in the Top 10, six titles in the Top 25, and nine titles in the Top 50.
The X-Men franchise took second place with one title in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and ten titles in the Top 50.
The Batman franchise took third place with two titles in the Top 10, three titles in the Top 25, and seven titles in the Top 50.
The Avengers franchise took fourth place with zero titles in the Top 10, four in the Top 25, and five in the Top 50.
The Superman franchise took fifth place with zero titles in the Top 10, zero in the Top 25, and three in the Top 50.
Marvel Comics and DC Comics Debut Issues
1 Spider-Boy #1 (Marvel Comics)
6 Ultimate Universe #1 (Marvel Comics)
7 Batman Catwoman The Gotham War Scorched Earth #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)
9 Superior Spider-Man #1 (Marvel Comics)
11 Punisher #1 (Marvel Comics)
22 White Widow #1 (Marvel Comics)
26 Carnage #1 (Marvel Comics)
29 Thanos #1 (Marvel Comics)
32 Supergirl Special #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)
37 Batman Off-World #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
50 It’s Jeff: The Jeff-Verse #1 (Marvel Comics)
51 Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)
52 What If…? Dark: Tomb of Dracula #1 (Marvel Comics)
54 Amazing Spider-Man Gang War First Strike #1 (Gang War) (Marvel Comics)
60 Star Wars: The High Republic #1 (Phase III) (Marvel Comics)
61 X-Men Blue Origins #1 (Marvel Comics)
62 Deadpool: Seven Slaughters #1 (Marvel Comics)
64 Star Wars Visions – Peach Momoko #1 (Marvel Comics)
78 Titans Beast World #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
79 Outsiders #1 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
87 Howard The Duck #1 (Marvel Comics)
88 Alien #1 (Marvel Comics)
90 Daredevil: Black Armor #1 (Marvel Comics)
101 Spider-Woman #1 (Gang War) (Marvel Comics)
115 Batman 89 Echoes #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
139 Superman ’78 The Metal Curtain #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
173 Luke Cage Gang War #1 (Gang War) (Marvel Comics)
193 Speed Force #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
As usual, we will address most of these debut issues in their franchise sections below. However, there are a few I want to discuss now.
Ultimate Universe #1 debuted at the number 6 spot. That is a nice strong debut number that is certain to please Marvel Comics. I am still curious to see if people really care about the Ultimate Universe anymore. Watching how the next couple of issues perform is going to be instructive and interesting.
Thanos #1 debuted at the number 29 spot. That is nothing to get excited about. I am not terribly bullish on the success of this four-issue mini-series. But, we shall see!
What If…? Dark: Tomb of Dracula #1 debuted at the number 52 spot. That is actually better than I anticipated for this issue.
Howard The Duck #1 debuted at the number 87 spot. This is a one-shot issue. I am not surprised by such a low ranking given that Howard is a rather niche character and one-shots do not usually set the sales rankings afire.
Alien #1 debuted at the number 88 spot. This is an awful debut for this FOX property.
Daredevil: Black Armor #1 debuted at the number 90 spot. This is a terrible debut for this four-issue mini-series. The power of nostalgia is weak for this 1990s throwback.
Big Events
G.O.D.S.
15 G.O.D.S. #2
191 G.O.D.S. #1 (Resolicitation)
G.O.D.S. had zero comics in the Top 10, one in the Top 25, and one in the Top 50. I am sure that Marvel Comics was hoping that a Hickman-penned big event would still be selling in the Top 10 with just the second issue.
Fall of X
5 X-Men #28 (Fall of the X-Men)
24 Uncanny Spider-Man #3 (Fall of X)
28 Immortal X-Men #17 (Fall of X)
30 Uncanny Avengers #4 (Fall of X)
31 X-Men Red #17 (Fall of X)
36 Wolverine #39 (Fall of X)
42 Uncanny Spider-Man #4 (Fall of X)
44 X-Force #46 (Fall of X)
47 Dark X-Men #4 (Fall of X)
63 Invincible Iron Man #12 (Fall of X)
72 Jean Grey #4 (Fall of X)
98 Alpha Flight #4 (Fall of X)
99 Children of the Vault #4 (Fall of X)
124 Uncanny Spider-Man #2 (Fall of X) (Resolicitation)
127 Astonishing Iceman #4 (Fall of X)
141 Uncanny Avengers #3 (Fall of X) (Resolicitation)
148 Dark X-Men #3 (Fall of X) (Resolicitation)
178 Realm of X #4 (Fall of X)
199 Jean Grey #3 (Fall of X) (Resolicitation)
Fall of X had one comic in the Top 10, two comics in the Top 25, and nine comics in the Top 50. This was worse in the Top 10 and Top 25 when Fall of X had two comics in the Top 10 and four comics in the Top 25 in October 2023. The numbers were flat in the Top 50 as Fall of X also had nine comics in the Top 50 in October 2023.
Gang War
2 Amazing Spider-Man #37 (Gang War)
8 Amazing Spider-Man #38 (Gang War)
54 Amazing Spider-Man Gang War First Strike #1 (Gang War)
92 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #12 (Gang War)
101 Spider-Woman #1 (Gang War)
173 Luke Cage Gang War #1 (Gang War)
Gang War had two comics in the Top 10, two comics in the Top 25, and two comics in the Top 50. Gang War had a disappointing start. Amazing Spider-Man would have scored the two Top 10 finishes even without Gang War. The other Gang War-related issues scored terrible sales rankings.
Dark Droids
48 Star Wars: Darth Vader #40 (Dark Droids)
75 Star Wars: Dark Droids #4 (Dark Droids)
136 Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38 (Dark Droids)
146 Star Wars Dark Droids – D-Squad #3 (Dark Droids)
151 Star Wars Bounty Hunters #40 (Dark Droids)
Dark Droids had zero comics in the Top 10, zero comics in the Top 25, and one comic in the Top 50. This was worse than October 2023 when Dark Droids had zero comics in the Top 10, zero comics in the Top 25, and four comics in the Top 50.
Gotham War
7 Batman Catwoman The Gotham War Scorched Earth #1 (One-Shot)
169 Batman #138 (Batman Catwoman The Gotham War) (Resolicitation)
Gotham War has concluded and ended with a nice Top 10 finish for its one-shot issue.
Star Wars Franchise
39 Star Wars #40 (Dark Droids)
48 Star Wars: Darth Vader #40 (Dark Droids)
60 Star Wars: The High Republic #1 (Phase III)
64 Star Wars Visions – Peach Momoko #1
75 Star Wars: Dark Droids #4 (Dark Droids)
94 Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #2
111 Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 #6
136 Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38 (Dark Droids)
146 Star Wars Dark Droids – D-Squad #3 (Dark Droids)
151 Star Wars Bounty Hunters #40 (Dark Droids)
Unranked: Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #3
The Star Wars franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and two titles in the Top 50. This was worse than October 2023 when the Star Wars franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and four titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were also down as the Star Wars franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, one title in the Top 25, and six titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Star Wars #40 popped up from the number 49 spot to the number 39 spot. This is about the area of the sales rankings that we see for this title monthly.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #40 fell from the number 27 spot down to the number 48 spot. This is not unusual as this title regularly fluctuates up and down the Top 50 every month.
It is no surprise that the best-selling Star Wars title is set in the classic trilogy timeline and stars the classic characters. It is also no surprise that the only two Star Wars titles selling in the Top 50 star characters from the classic trilogy.
The High Republic continues to be the answer to a question that nobody was asking.
Star Wars: The High Republic #1 had a hideous debut failing to make the Top 50 and coming in at the number 60 spot.
Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #2 crashed and burned falling from the number 31 spot down to the number 94 spot.
None of this is surprising. Only the Lucasfilm Story Group thanks that the High Republic initiative is an excellent idea.
Star Wars Visions – Peach Momoko #1 debuted at the number 64 spot. This is a bad debut. Momoko is a great artist, but she has trouble pulling in numbers just on her name alone.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38 dropped from the number 127 spot down to the number 136 spot. This title always sells poorly so this spot in the rankings is to be expected.
Next are the two titles related to Disney+ shows. And there is nothing pretty to be found here at all.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 #6 plummeted from the number 53 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 111 spot. Again, the stunt hiring of a Hollywood non-comic book writer to write a comic does not translate into sales success.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #3 continued its breathtaking freefall in the sales rankings by crashing down from the number 154 spot and right out of the sales rankings. This title went from a debut at the number 79 spot to being unranked just by the third issue. This was no surprise. Jody Houser is the writer and she has never had any sales success for Marvel Comics. Also, the Disney+ show was a dud so I am not surprised that people were not clamoring for a comic based on the show.
Spider-Man Franchise
1 Spider-Boy #1
2 Amazing Spider-Man #37 (Gang War)
8 Amazing Spider-Man #38 (Gang War)
9 Superior Spider-Man #1
19 Venom #27
24 Uncanny Spider-Man #3 (Fall of X)
26 Carnage #1
40 Amazing Spider-Man #36 (Resolicitation)
42 Uncanny Spider-Man #4 (Fall of X)
54 Amazing Spider-Man Gang War First Strike #1 (Gang War)
92 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #12 (Gang War)
100 Amazing Spider-Man #35 (Resolicitation)
101 Spider-Woman #1 (Gang War)
102 Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #2
124 Uncanny Spider-Man #2 (Fall of the X-Men) (Resolicitation)
165 Red Goblin #10
The Spider-Man franchise had four titles in the Top 10, six titles in the Top 25, and nine titles in the Top 50. This was better than October 2023 when the Spider-Man franchise had two titles in the Top 10, four titles in the Top 25, and seven titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were up as the Spider-Man franchise had three titles in the Top 10, five titles in the Top 25, and seven titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Peter Parker remains the straw that stirs the drink for the Spider-Man franchise. Amazing Spider-Man #37 scored the number 2 spot and 8 Amazing Spider-Man #38. That is even better than in October 2023 when Amazing Spider-Man #35 took the number 2 spot and Amazing Spider-Man #36 took the number 13 spot.
The resolicitation for Amazing Spider-Man #36 scored a Top 50 finish by taking the number 40 spot. The resolicitation for Amazing Spider-Man #35 took the number 100 spot. Those are impressive resolicitation numbers.
Amazing Spider-Man Gang War First Strike #1 had a poor debut coming in at the number 54 spot. Yes, this did ship in the final week of November 2023. But, this issue was the prelude to Gang War and came with two variant covers and one incentive cover.
Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #2 dropped off a cliff as it fell from the number 38 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 102 spot. Obviously, readers were not impressed with what Saladin Ahmed brought with the debut issue of this title. It looks like this four-issue mini-series is doomed to be a sales failure.
Spider-Boy #1 crushed it scoring the number 1 spot with its debut. That is phenomenal. The interest in Dan Slott’s new title was massive. I will be curious to see if this title has legs and if readers decide to stick around for the long haul.
Superior Spider-Man #1 debuted at the number 9 spot. Slott had a ridiculous month in November 2023. No doubt about it. Superior Spider-Man was a popular comic during its first run. It will be interesting to see how well this return to Superior Spider-Man performs in the upcoming months.
Uncanny Spider-Man #3 bobbed up from the number 39 spot to the number 24 spot. Uncanny Spider-Man #4 then fell to the number 42 spot. Shipping two titles in the same month is always tough so it’s a win that both issues made it in the Top 50.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #12 plummetted like a dead duck falling from the number 42 spot down to the number 92 spot. It appears that the heat of this latest reboot of Miles’ solo title is beginning to cool off. This is no surprise as Miles Morales has never been a strong seller. The question is if this is a temporary drop or if Miles is headed back to his normal place in the sales rankings somewhere between the number 125 spot and the number 150 spot.
Venom #27 dipped from the number 15 spot to the number 19 spot. Venom continues to be a rock-solid seller that is always in the Top 25.
Carnage #1 debuted at the number 26 spot. This is a rather average debut number. I am interested to see how many readers Torunn Grønbekk can convince to return for more in the coming months.
Spider-Woman #1 had a disastrous debut failing to even make the Top 100 and coming in at the number 101 spot. Yes, this issue shipped in the final week of November 2023, but it also came with three variant covers and three incentive covers. This title is dead on arrival. I would expect this ongoing title to suddenly get converted into a limited series.
Red Goblin #10 fell from the number 123 spot down to the number 165 spot. This is the lowest that we have seen this title in the sales rankings. Next month will be important to see if this title can rebound or if it is truly running out of steam.
X-Men Franchise
5 X-Men #28 (Fall of the X-Men)
24 Uncanny Spider-Man #3 (Fall of X)
27 Predator Vs. Wolverine #3
28 Immortal X-Men #17 (Fall of X)
30 Uncanny Avengers #4 (Fall of X)
31 X-Men Red #17 (Fall of X)
36 Wolverine #39 (Fall of X)
42 Uncanny Spider-Man #4 (Fall of X)
44 X-Force #46 (Fall of X)
47 Dark X-Men #4 (Fall of X)
61 X-Men Blue Origins #1
62 Deadpool: Seven Slaughters #1
72 Jean Grey #4 (Fall of X)
98 Alpha Flight #4 (Fall of X)
99 Children of the Vault #4 (Fall of X)
124 Uncanny Spider-Man #2 (Fall of the X-Men) (Resolicitation)
127 Astonishing Iceman #4 (Fall of X)
138 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #4
141 Uncanny Avengers #3 (Fall of the X-Men) (Resolicitation)
142 Magneto #4
143 Predator Vs. Wolverine #1 (Resolicitation)
144 X-Men #141 Facsimile Edition
148 Dark X-Men #3 (Fall of the X-Men) (Resolicitation)
178 Realm of X #4 (Fall of X)
189 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #3 (Resolicitation)
199 Jean Grey #3 (Fall of the X-Men) (Resolicitation)
The X-Men franchise had one title in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and ten titles in the Top 50. This was worse than October 2023 when the X-Men franchise had two titles in the Top 10, five titles in the Top 25, and eleven titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were flat in the Top 10, down in the Top 25, and up in the Top 50 as the X-Men franchise had one title in the Top 10, one title in the Top 25, and five titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Let’s first look at the main team titles.
X-Men #28 ticked down from the number 4 spot to the number 5 spot. The X-Men remains the cream of the crop of all the X-Men franchise titles.
Immortal X-Men #17 dropped from the number 7 spot down to the number 28 spot. This was a bad month for Immortal X-Men and the first time that this title has been ranked outside of the Top 25. It is too early to tell if this title is running out of steam or not. The next few months are going to be critical.
X-Men Red #17 dropped from the number 23 spot down to the number 31 spot. X-Men Red seems locked into sliding in and out of the bottom of the Top 25 every month.
Dark X-Men #4 ticked up from the number 48 spot to the number 47 spot. It appears that Dark X-Men’s fall in the sales rankings has been arrested.
X-Men Blue Origins #1 had an awful debut coming in at the number 61 spot. Yes, this issue did ship in the final week of November 2023. But, it also came with two variant covers and one incentive cover.
I am not surprised that this title had a terrible debut. I am not sure how many X-Men fans were dying to see Nightcrawler’s origin retconned to have Mystique being able to transform into a dude so she could impregnate Destiny who would then birth Nightcrawler. This is the type of retconning that shows the massive disconnect between the editors and writers at Marvel Comics and loyal readers.
X-Force #46 fell from the number 33 spot down to the number 44 spot. This is about what I would expect from this title as X-Force has proven to be a solid bottom end of the Top 50 seller every month.
Alpha Flight #4 bounced back up from the number 112 spot to the number 98 spot. As a long-time Alpha Flight fan, I am glad to see this title clawing back into the Top 100. But, I am under no illusions that this title is suddenly going to catch fire and continue to climb up the rankings. I think Alpha Flight will continue to struggle to crack into the Top 100 each month.
Children of the Vault #4 continued its freefall in the rankings as it dropped from the number 73 spot down to the number 99 spot. I predicted that this title would drop out of the Top 75 in November 2023 based on the quick rate it was dropping in the rankings over its first three issues. It now is a lock that Children of the Vault will be out of the Top 100 and probably out of the Top 125 with the next issue.
Realm of X #4 continued its stunning crash and burn in the sales rankings as it fell from the number 125 spot down to the number 178 spot. Now, this issue did ship in the final week of November 2023, but this is an incredibly low sales ranking. I am not sure next month is going to bring much good news for Realm of X. It looks like Torunn Grønbekk’s story of her all-ladies roster has been a miss with readers.
All right, let’s look at the solo title.
Predator Vs. Wolverine #3 dropped slightly from the number 20 spot to the number 27 spot. It should be noted that Predator vs. Wolverine #3 shipped in the final week of November 2023. This busts the myth that shipping in the final week of a month dooms an issue to a bad sales ranking. Predator vs. Wolverine has been a massive hit for Marvel Comics and Benjamin Percy has done a great job on this title.
Wolverine #39 fell from the number 12 spot to the number 36 spot. This is not unusual for Wolverine as it bounces up and down this range of the sales rankings every month.
Deadpool: Seven Slaughters #1 had a bad debut coming in at the number 62 spot. That is despite this issue shipping with five variant covers and two incentive covers.
Jean Grey #4 ticked up from the number 77 spot to the number 71 spot. This is now the third month in a row that Jean Grey has slotted in the 70-79 range in the rankings.
Astonishing Iceman #4 continued to crash and burn in the rankings as it fell from the number 91 spot down to the number 127 spot. Steve Orlando has failed to get readers interested in the story that he is offering on this title. Nobody other than the Marvel Comics editorial staff is surprised that this title has failed in the rankings in short order. Given that Astonishing Iceamn has entered the Dead Titles Walking category in just four issues I would imagine that Marvel Comics converts this ongoing title into a limited series soon.
Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #4 plummeted from the number 84 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 138 spot. This issue did ship in the final week of November 2023, but it also had three variant covers and one incentive cover. I am not surprised that this four-issue mini-series finished in the Dead Titles Walking category. This is usually where we find a Ms. Marvel title.
Once again, stunt hiring for the writer position leads to sales failure. The writing team of Sabir Pirzada and Iman Vellani was a bad idea. Prizada is a TV writer and producer. Vellani is an actress. I am unsure why either would be qualified to write a mainstream superhero comic book for the biggest comic book publisher in North America.
Magneto #4 dropped from the number 91 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 142 spot. This four-issue mini-series was a sales dud for Marvel Comics. It breaks my heart that the creative team of J.M DeMatteis and Todd Nauck had such poor sales results. But, readers clearly were not that interested in this mini-series.
Avengers Franchise
13 Incredible Hulk #6
16 Immortal Thor #4
20 Avengers #7
22 White Widow #1
30 Uncanny Avengers #4 (Fall of X)
58 Scarlet Witch #10
63 Invincible Iron Man #12 (Fall of X)
68 Sensational She-Hulk #2
104 Captain America #3
105 Immortal Thor #3 (Resolicitation)
114 Captain Marvel #2
137 Black Panther #6
141 Uncanny Avengers #3 (Fall of the X-Men) (Resolicitation)
150 Avengers Inc. #3
154 Captain Marvel #1 (Resolicitation)
156 Captain America #2 (Resolicitation)
167 Capwolf & the Howling Commandos #2
173 Luke Cage Gang War #1 (Gang War)
179 Incredible Hulk #5 (Resolicitation)
Unranked: Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest #5
The Avengers franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, four titles in the Top 25, and five titles in the Top 50. This was better in the Top 10 and Top 25, but worse in the Top 50 in than October 2023 when the Avengers franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, three titles in the Top 25, and six titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were down in the Top 10 but up in the Top 25 and Top 50 as the Avengers franchise had one title in the Top 10, one title in the Top 25, and three titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
First, let’s look at the team titles for the Avengers franchise.
Avengers #7 dipped down from the number 18 spot to the number 20 spot. That is great to see as Avengers appears to have found its footing in the sales rankings. Marvel Comics would certainly love to see the Avengers remain a consistent Top 25 title every month.
Uncanny Avengers #4 bobbed back up from the number 37 spot to the number 30 spot. This is a positive sign for this young title. The next few months will be instructive as to whether Uncanny Avengers can regularly finish in the Top 50.
Avengers Inc. #3 continues its death spiral in the sales rankings as it fell from the number 89 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 150 spot. This title fell from its debut at the number 29 spot to the number 150 spot in just three issues!
We also just learned that Avengers Inc., which was announced as an ongoing title, will be canceled as of issue #5. Wow. This is stunning. Talk about an editorial staff being completely out of touch with their consumer base. I am still scratching my head as to why any editor at Marvel Comics thought this title would ever be a good idea or something that their readers would even be remotely interested in this title.
Incredible Hulk #6 ticked up from the number 16 spot to the number 13 spot. Incredible Hulk continues to be a sales beast that ranks in the Top 25 every single month. I do not see that changing anytime soon. Phillip Kennedy Johnson has been doing a good job getting readers to return each month for more.
Immortal Thor #4 shot up from the number 41 spot to the number 16 spot. This is not a surprise since Immortal Thor did ship in the final week of October. I had a feeling we would get a solid rebound in November. Of course, shipping with two variant covers and one incentive cover didn’t hurt, either. At any rate, I remain confident that Al Ewing will keep Immortal Thor in the Top 25 to the high end of the Top 50 every month.
Invincible Iron Man #12 dropped from the number 30 spot out of the Top 50 and down to the number 63 spot. This is despite having one variant cover and one incentive cover. It looks like the guest appearance of Ironheart did not help any either as Mr. Emma Frost’s solo title suffered a big drop.
I am not sure that Invincible Iron Man will climb back up in the rankings like it was over the past two months due to the wedding of Mrs. and Mr. Emma Frost. Honestly, I am surprised that Mr. Emma Frost’s title is selling even this well. As a long-time Iron Man fan, this has to be one of the worst runs on Iron Man that I have read.
Captain America #3 continued to plummet in the rankings as it fell from the number 71 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 104 spot. Now, this issue did ship in the final week of November, but it also had four variant covers and two incentive covers to help boost it.
I am not bullish at all on this title. I passed on this title the second I read that J. Michale Stracynksi was going to be the writer. Evidently, the readers who gave JMS a chance with the debut issue have fled this title in large numbers.
Capwolf & the Howling Commandos #2 crashed and burned spectacularly as it fell from the number 66 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 167 spot. This four-issue mini-series has an excellent chance of concluding unranked.
I saw this coming from a mile away. Stephanie Phillips is the writer and she has a long history of getting brutally awful sales numbers on any Marvel Comics or DC Comics title she writes. I am bewildered by how Phillips continues to get hired by either Marvel Comics or DC Comics. It defies logic.
Black Panther #6 crashed from the number 78 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 137 spot. This title seems doomed to languish in the Dead Titles Walking category. Hiring a sociology professor to write a mainstream superhero title is proving to be a bad idea. Black Panther deserves so much better than how Marvel Comics is treating this fantastic character. A badass action and adventure story starring Black Panther written by a legit superhero comic book writer would be a lock for the Top 50 every month.
Luke Cage Gang War #1 had a horrendous debut failing to even make the Top 150 as it came in at the number 173 spot. Yeah, this shipped in the final week of November 2023, but it also had three variant covers to help. Plus, coming in this low in the sales rankings means that this title would not have even made the Top 100 even if it had shipped in the earlier part of November.
Again, stunt hiring at the writer position does not lead to sales success. Marvel Comics tabbed a Hollywood writer/producer Rodney Barnes to pen this title. Perhaps Luke Cage will enjoy a sales bump next month. But, I think this four-issue mini-series is doomed to conclude in the Dead Titles Walking category.
How about the ladies of the Avengers franchise?
White Widow #1 debuted at the number 22 spot. I am not confident in Yelena Belova’s latest title. The writer for this comic is Sarah Gailey. I have absolutely no idea where Marvel Comics finds these random non-comic book writers from. Gailey is a non-fiction writer for Mashable and the Boston Globe. Gailey has also written several fictional novellas as well as three novels for adults. I have no idea why anyone at Marvel Comics would think that Gailey would be a great hire for a mainstream superhero comic book. But, here we are. Again. Maybe I will be proven wrong, but these random non-comic book writers usually fail in the sales rankings when tasked with a mainstream superhero comic.
Scarlet Witch #10 ticked down from the number 54 spot to the number 58 spot. With this issue, this volume of Scarlet Witch has concluded. Soon, we will be getting a new volume of Scarlet Witch with a #1 slapped on the cover to try and juice sales.
Sensational She-Hulk #2 crashed and burned falling from the number 11 spot out of the Top 50 and down to the number 68 spot. That is despite this issue shipping with four variant covers and one incentive cover. I cautioned everyone to pump the brakes when they got all excited over Sensational She-Hulk #1 scoring the number 11 spot.
We all know how Marvel Comics operates. A title starts to fail in the sales rankings. Marvel Comics then cancels it and two months later rolls out a new volume of the same title with a shiny #1 issue on the cover but also with the exact same creative team. The result is always a temporary sales spike with the debut issue and then the newly restarted returns back to the same spot in the sales rankings that it was before it got canceled.
Rainbow Rowell’s She-Hulk debuted in January 2022 by scoring the number 2 spot. She-Hulk #2-8 then averaged the number 40 spot in the sales rankings. She-Hulk #9-15 then averaged the number 64 spot with the final issue, She-Hulk #15, taking the number 91 spot.
Then Marvel Comics did what they love to do and canceled the title and then rolled out a new She-Hulk comic with a #1 on the cover but by the same creative team. The result was a predictable sales bump as Sensational She-Hulk #1 scored the number 11 spot. However, I was not tricked by this debut number given the past results of Rowell’s She-Hulk and other Marvel Comics titles which are restarted with the same creative team. I had a feeling that Sensational She-Hulk was going to quickly return to where the final few issues of She-Hulk were in the sales rankings.
I am not bullish at all about Sensational She-Hulk. If Marvel Comics wants to shake things up and try and improve the sales numbers then a new creative team would make the most sense.
Captain Marvel #2 fell like a dead duck as it dropped from the number 58 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 114 spot. That is despite Marvel Comics’ best efforts to boost this issue with a whopping five variant covers and three incentive covers.
I won’t lie and say I don’t love being right. But, I called this back when Marvel Comics announced they were restarting Captain Marvel with Alyssa Wong as the writer. Captain Marvel has only ever been popular with Marvel Comics editors and has never sold well. Add to that the fact that Alyssa Wong has gotten awful sales numbers on everything she has written meant that it was an easy guess to predict that Wong’s Captain Marvel was going to be a sales failure.
I did get it wrong as far as how quickly Wong’s Captain Marvel would fail. I thought this title would score a Top 10 debut and then fall out of the Top 75 by Captain Marvel #10. I was being far too generous. Instead, Wong’s Captain Marvel has managed to find itself in the Dead Walking Titles category with just the second issue! That is stunning.
Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest #5 concluded this mini-series outside of the Top 200 and unranked. Chalk this up as another failed Marvel Comics mini-series.
Batman Franchise
3 Batman #139
7 Batman Catwoman The Gotham War Scorched Earth #1 (One-Shot)
23 Detective Comics #1076
33 Detective Comics #1077
34 Batman Superman World’s Finest #21
37 Batman Off-World #1 (Of 6)
38 Batman And Robin #3
53 Poison Ivy #16
56 Nightwing #108
59 Birds of Prey #3
79 Outsiders #1 (Of 12)
82 Detective Comics #1078
110 Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #12
115 Batman 89 Echoes #1 (Of 6)
129 Catwoman #59
135 Detective Comics #1075 (Resolicitation)
147 Harley Quinn Black White Redder #5 (Of 6)
169 Batman #138 (Batman Catwoman The Gotham War) (Resolicitation)
172 Harley Quinn #34
175 Harley Quinn #33 (Resolicitation)
182 Nightwing #107 (Resolicitation)
187 Batman Superman World’s Finest #20 (Resolicitation)
188 Penguin #4
196 Batman The Brave And The Bold #7
Unranked: Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic #5
Unranked: Batman: Gotham by Gaslight #1
The Batman franchise had two titles in the Top 10, three titles in the Top 25, and seven titles in the Top 50. This was worse than October 2023 when the Batman franchise had two titles in the Top 10, six titles in the Top 25, and eight titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were down as the Batman franchise had two titles in the Top 10, seven titles in the Top 25, and nine titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Let’s first check out the Bruce Wayne titles.
Batman #139 stayed steady by taking the number 3 spot just like it did back in October 2023. This title remains the gold standard for DC Comics.
Batman Catwoman The Gotham War Scorched Earth #1 is a one-shot issue that scored the number 7 spot.
Detective Comics #1076 bounced up from the number 55 spot to the number 23 spot. Detective Comics #1077 then came in at the number 33 spot. Detective Comics #1078 shipped in the final week of November 2023 and took the number 82 spot. That is actually pretty damn good for a title that shipped three issues in the same month. It is normal to see any title that ships multiple issues in the same month get lower sales rankings with each extra issue.
Batman Superman World’s Finest #21 dropped from the number 14 spot down to the number 34 spot. That is more of a drop than I expected for this title. However, it has fluctuated in and out of the Top 25 so I am not hitting the panic button just yet.
Batman Off-World #1 had an average debut coming in at the number 37 spot. This is despite having two variant covers, three incentive covers, three retailer-exclusive covers, and one event-exclusive cover. This six-issue mini-series also boasts a big-name writer Jason Aaron and an all-star artist Doug Mahnke.
This is a lower debut than I expected for such an impressive creative team. Undoubtedly, DC Comics was expecting Batman Off-World to be a strong seller. I am sure that DC Comics is also stunned and shocked by this poor debut number. But, Batman fatigue is real and the more DC Comics leans on Bruce Wayne to power their sales the more readers may get burned out.
Batman And Robin #3 dropped from the number 9 spot out of the Top 25 and down to the number 38 spot. This is a steeper drop than I was anticipating given how there was only a two-spot drop between issue #1 and issue #2. Maybe this is just a blip and Batman and Robin will climb back up in the rankings next month. It is too early to panic about this title.
Batman 89 Echoes #1 had an awful debut failing to even make the Top 100 and coming in at the number 115 spot. Yes, this issue shipped in the final week of November 2023, but it also came with three variant covers and two incentive covers. This six-issue mini-series looks like it is going to be a sales bust. I am not that surprised. DC Comics has spent so many years actively chasing off their loyal older readers. So, I am not shocked that there are not enough older readers still around to purchase a title that trades on pure nostalgia.
Batman The Brave And The Bold #7 dropped from the number 142 spot down to the number 196 spot. Yes, this issue shipped in the final week of November 2023, but it also shipped in the last week of October 2023 so this big drop is a bad sign.
All right, now it is time to check out all of the support characters in the Batman franchise.
Nightwing #108 plummeted from the number 22 spot out of the Top 50 and down to the number 56 spot. This is an alarming drop for a title that had been consistently bouncing between the Top 25 and the Top 50 every month. DC Comics cannot afford to lose Nightwing as a consistent Top 25/Top 50 seller each month. Otherwise, we are back to Bruce Wayne shouldering the load as the only Batman franchise character who can power Top 25/Top 50 sales numbers every month.
Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic #5 dropped from the number 198 spot and out of the Top 200 and ended up unranked. This is where I figured this mini-series was going to end up given the creative team of Lanzing and Kelly. It looks like a lock for this six-issue mini-series to conclude unranked.
Let’s look at the two team titles from the Batman franchise.
Birds of Prey #3 suffered a big drop as it fell from the number 19 spot out of the Top 50 and down to the number 59 spot. This is despite shipping with two variant covers and two incentive covers. Birds of Prey debuted at the number 12 spot and this is a faster drop out of the Top 50 than I anticipated. I addressed this new Birds of Prey title once it was announced. Birds of Prey is a franchise that has historically struggled for great sales numbers. Kelly Thompson is the writer and she has always struggled to get good sales numbers, too.
I predicted Birds of Prey would score a Top 10 debut, which it just barely missed out on. I then predicted that Birds of Prey would be struggling to stay in the Top 75 by Birds of Prey #5. That seems to be exactly where Birds of Prey is headed.
Outsiders #1 had a brutally awful debut failing to even make the Top 75 and coming in at the number 79 spot. This is despite shipping with two variant covers and two incentive covers. This is no surprise. Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly are the writers and they have never had any sales success. Also, this Outsiders roster lacks any of the characters that readers associate with the Outsiders franchise.
Instead, this Outsiders roster consists of Batwing, Batwoman, and Drummer. The combination of Lanzing and Kelly with an underwhelming roster made me convinced this latest version of Outsiders was going to be a sales failure. It looks like Outsiders will be outside of the Top 100 by just the second issue. It is going to be a struggle for this twelve-issue mini-series to remain ranked in the Top 200 by its conclusion.
Next up are the ladies of the Batman franchise.
Poison Ivy #16 suffered a big drop falling from the number 28 spot down to the number 53 spot. And just last month I commented that until proven otherwise, I will continue to expect to see Poison Ivy remain a Top 50 title every month. Welp. that did not last long as I was proven otherwise immediately. Next month will be important for Poison Ivy to see if this is just a momentary blip or if this title is truly cooling off.
Catwoman #59 crashed and burned falling from the number 34 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 129 spot. We all knew that once Gotham War concluded Catwoman would immediately plummet back to the Dead Titles Walking category where it is normally found. It looks like Gotham War was a failure in getting any of the readers who hopped onto Catwoman for Gotham War to stick around once the big event concluded. That is no surprise. I did not think any of the readers who hopped onto this title for Gotham War would want to stick around for Tini Howard’s writing.
Harley Quinn Black White Redder #5 slipped from the number 141 spot to the number 147 spot. That is a small drop and gives hope that this six-issue mini-series might be able to conclude in the Top 150.
Harley Quinn #34 crashed from the number 99 spot down to the number 172 spot. This issue did ship in the final week of November 2023, but it also had two variant covers and two incentive covers to help power it. Shockingly, readers weren’t flocking to read Tini Howard’s Multiversal Janitorial Princess-Babysitters Mystery Detective Agency Club story. Who would have thought? Harley Quinn is one of DC Comics’ biggest-name female characters with a history of posting big sales numbers. It is sad to see how far this franchise has fallen. It would be great to see DC Comics actually care about Harley Quinn and put a real superhero comic book writer on her title.
Lastly, let’s check out the villains of the Batman franchise.
Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #12 concluded this limited series by falling from the number 67 spot down to the number 110 spot. This mini-series ended up being a pedestrian seller.
Penguin #4 suffered a large drop falling from the number 128 spot down to the number 188 spot. This issue did ship in the final week of November 2023, but it also shipped in the final week of October 2023 so this is a legitimate drop in the sales rankings. Tom King has failed to generate much reader interest in this title. There appears to be a good chance that Penguin ends up being unranked.
Superman Franchise
32 Supergirl Special #1 (One-Shot)
34 Batman Superman World’s Finest #21
45 Superman #8
51 Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One-Shot)
103 Superman Lost #8 (Of 10)
112 Action Comics #1059
139 Superman ’78 The Metal Curtain #1 (Of 6)
163 Superman #7 (#850) (Resolicitation)
168 Power Girl #3
177 Action Comics #1058 (Resolicitation)
Unranked: Steelworks #6
The Superman franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and three titles in the Top 50. This was worse in the Top 10 and Top 25, but better in the Top 50 than October 2023 when the Superman franchise had one title in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and two titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were up as the Superman franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and one title in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Superman #8 shockingly cratered in falling from the number 10 spot to the number 45 spot. This was despite Superman #8 shipping with four variant covers and two incentive covers. Based on prior months, I did not see a sharp drop like this coming in November 2023. This has to be distressing for DC Comics. They cannot have their Dawn of DC initiative for the Superman franchise already fail. Perhaps this month was an odd blip in the sales numbers. Next month is going to be an important one for Superman.
Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 debuted at the number 51 spot. This was a pedestrian number for this one-shot issue.
Superman Lost #8 dropped from the number 82 spot to the number 103 spot. This ten-issue limited series looks like it may not be able to conclude inside of the Top 100.
Action Comics #1059 fell from the number 64 spot down to the number 112 spot. This issue did ship in the final week of November 2023, but it was boosted by three variant covers and two incentive covers. The Dawn of DC initiative on Action Comics has been a big sales failure. The odd storylines delivered by a less-than-impressive collection of writers failed to connect with readers. At this point, we are just killing time before Jason Aaron arrives to try and rescue this sinking ship.
Superman ’78 The Metal Curtain #1 had an awful debut failing to make the Top 100 and coming in at the number 139 spot. This was not a surprise. Given that DC Comics has actively chased off their long-time readers, these titles that are powered by nostalgia are going to find smaller audiences. The new mission for this six-issue mini-series is to conclude ranked in the Top 200.
Steelworks #6 concluded this mini-series with a thud as it ended up unranked for the second straight month. What a complete failure by DC Comics. The stunt hiring of a Hollywood actor as the writer predictably blew up in DC Comics’ face.
Let’s check out the ladies of the Superman franchise.
Supergirl Special #1 debuted at the number 32 spot. This is nothing amazing, but at least this one-shot issue scored a Top 50 number.
Power Girl #3 continued its monstrous decline in the sales rankings as it fell from the number 116 spot all the way to the number 168 spot. This title did ship in the last week of November 2023, but it also shipped in the last week of October 2023, too. So this is a good comparison. Also, Power Girl #3 was also boosted by two variant covers, two incentive covers, and two retailer covers. So, DC Comics was pulling out all the stops.
This is an insane fall as Power Girl #1 debuted at the number 36 spot. Power Girl is a popular character, but hiring Leah Williams as the writer was a massive mistake. Williams wasted no time in driving off readers in droves.
Justice League Franchise
12 Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #2 (Of 7)
21 Wonder Woman #3
57 Green Lantern #5
67 Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #1 (Of 6) (Resolicitation)
93 Wonder Woman #2 (Resolicitation)
120 Wonder Woman #1 Facsimile Edition (1987)
126 The Flash #3
134 Green Arrow #6 (Of 6)
149 The Flash #2 (Resolicitation)
160 Green Lantern War Journal #3
185 Fire & Ice Welcome To Smallville #3 (Of 6)
Unranked: Hawkgirl #5
Unranked: Amazons Attack #2
Unranked: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Special #1
Unranked: Wonder Woman: Outlaw Edition #1
The Justice League franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and two titles in the Top 50. This was worse than October 2023 when the Justice League franchise had one title in the Top 10, one title in the Top 25, and three titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were up as the Justice League franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and zero titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #2 dipped from the number 6 spot to the number 12 spot. This is still an excellent sales ranking and not that big of a drop at all. I love this comic and I am glad to see other readers are all in on this Kaiju/Superhero mashup!
Green Lantern #5 fell from the number 22 spot down to the number 57 spot. This is the lowest this title has sold up to this point. DC Comics cannot afford to have the Green Lantern franchise consistently outside of the Top 50. We are rapidly approaching the same place that DC Comics was before when only their Batman franchise titles would make the Top 50. Hopefully, Green Lantern can rebound in December 2023.
Green Lantern War Journal #3 continues its freefall in the rankings as it fell from the number 109 spot down to the number 160 spot. This comic is a disaster at this point. It is not that much of a surprise given that Hal Jordan has been the only Green Lantern to pull in good sales numbers over the history of the Green Lantern franchise.
The Flash #3 suffered a big drop as it fell from the number 61 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 126 spot. This has been a stunning fall in the rankings as The Flash #1 debuted at the number 22 spot. Now, this issue did ship in the final week of November 2023. Of course, this issue was also powered by two variant covers and two incentive covers.
In the end, it looks like DC Comics has a real problem on its hands as the Flash franchise appears to be yet another DC property that is failing under the Dawn of DC initiative. It appears that the readers who powered The Flash to a Top 25 debut were not impressed with Simon Spurrier’s story. It is also possible that DC Comics’ decision to shelve Barry Allen in favor of Wally West was a bad idea. At any rate, it is sad to see the Flash already in such a state of disarray only three issues into this new title. Hopefully, this is just a temporary blip and The Flash can rebound in December 2023.
Green Arrow #6 fell from the number 95 spot down to the number 134 spot. With that, this six-issue limited series concluded outside of the Top 100. Chalk Green Arrow up as another failed Dawn of DC title.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Special #1 debuted outside of the Top 200 and was unranked. This is no surprise. DCU movies have a history of bombing in movie theaters and just are not popular. So a comic book pimping another terrible-looking DCU movie was never going to sell well.
All right, how about the ladies of the Justice League franchise?
Wonder Woman #3 rebounded by climbing up from the number 26 spot to the number 21 spot. This is a rare bright spot for DC Comics and their Dawn of DC initiative. DC Comics desperately needs Wonder Woman to remain a consistent Top 25 seller.
Amazons Attack #2 fell from the number 167 spot and out of the Top 200 and ended up being unranked. This is despite having one variant cover and one incentive cover. No surprise here as Josie Campbell has never had any sales success in mainstream superhero comics. This six-issue mini-series is doomed to be unranked for the remainder of this story.
Fire & Ice Welcome To Smallville #3 continues to fall in the sales ranking like a lemming diving off a cliff as it fell from the number 134 spot down to the number 185 spot. This is a title that debuted at the number 57 spot. Again, this is no surprise. Joanne Starer is the writer and Starer has no business writing a mainstream superhero comic book for DC Comics. The result has been a terrible story that chased readers away in dramatic fashion. It is a lock that this six-issue limited series will be unranked by next month.
Hawkgirl #5 plummetted from the number 162 spot fell out of the Top 200 and ended up unranked. Honestly, I am shocked it took Hawkgirl to the fifth issue to be unranked. This comic has been a complete disaster as DC Comics editorial once again hired a completely random person with no qualifications to write a mainstream superhero comic book. In the process of all these bad decisions, DC Comics is strip mining so many of their excellent characters.
Justice Society Franchise
73 Justice Society of America #7 (Of 12)
119 Wesley Dodds The Sandman #2 (Of 6)
153 All-Star Comics #3 Facsimile Edition
158 Jay Garrick The Flash #2 (Of 6)
183 Alan Scott The Green Lantern #2 (Of 6)
The Justice Society franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and zero titles in the Top 50. This was worse than October 2023 when the Justice Society franchise had zero titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and zero titles in the Top 50.
Justice Society of America #7 fell from the number 48 spot down to the number 73 spot. As a long-time JSA fan, it sucks to see that DC Comics cannot get readers interested in this franchise.
Wesley Dodds The Sandman #2 suffered a huge drop falling from the number 43 spot out of the Top 100 and down to the number 119 spot. Wow. Readers were not hooked by what they got in the debut issue.
Jay Garrick The Flash #2 also had a monster drop falling from the number 70 spot down to the number 158 spot. As a long-time Jay Garrick fan this one definitely hurts.
Alan Scott The Green Lantern #2 suffered the worst drop of all falling from the number 80 spot all the way down to the number 183 spot. Good lord! This title almost fell out of the Top 200 rankings altogether with just its second issue. What a massive failure. Now, this issue did ship in the last week of November, but it also shipped in the last week of October so the numbers are comparable. Plus, this issue had two variant covers and one incentive cover to help boost it.
This is no surprise as Tim Sheridan has never had any sales success and has a history of writing some bad superhero comics. Sheridan’s story reminds me more of terrible fanfiction from Tumblr than what you would expect to get on a mainstream superhero comic book from DC Comics. Obviously, Sheridan’s story made the few readers that hopped on for the debut issue flee in large numbers. This newly reimagined origin story for Alan is poorly written. It sucks to see Alan Scott’s character so badly handled by DC Comics.
Mantle Swap Titles
9 Superior Spider-Man #1 (Marvel Comics)
11 Punisher #1 (Marvel Comics)
92 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #12 (Gang War) (Marvel Comics)
114 Captain Marvel #2 (Marvel Comics)
138 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #4 (Marvel Comics)
154 Captain Marvel #1 (Marvel Comics) (Resolicitation)
170 Blue Beetle #3 (DC Comics)
189 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #3 (Marvel Comics) (Resolicitation)
193 Speed Force #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
Unranked: Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest #5
There was one mantle swap title in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and two titles in the Top 50. This was flat in the Top 10, better in the Top 25, and worse in the Top 50 than in October 2023 when there was one mantle swap titles in the Top 10, one titles in the Top 25, and three titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were up as there were zero mantle swap titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and zero titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Punisher #1 debuted at the number 11 spot. This issue was powered by three variant covers and two incentive covers. Look, I may think it was embarrassing of Marvel Comics and the way they handled the Frank Castle fiasco. From changing his logo to purposefully emasculating Frank Castle to shuttling him off to Weirdworld where his character can exist in purgatory. The handling of Frank’s character highlights how those in charge do not like these characters or care at all about what readers want in their superhero comic books.
So, I have no interest at all in this new Punisher. As far as I am concerned this new character can die in a crater. But, the facts are the facts. Scoring a number 11 spot debut in the sales rankings is excellent. Marvel Comics has to be excited about this debut number. We shall see what kind of legs this new mantle swap title has over the next few months.
Blue Beetle #3 continued its rapid fall in the sales rankings as it dropped from the number 117 spot down to the number 170 spot. This is a title that debuted in the number 49 spot. Of course, this huge drop in just three issues was predictable. Only a DC Comics editor would think that rolling out the same character with the same creative team (Blue Beetle Graduation Day) that just bombed in the sales rankings would get a different result.
This ongoing series is a lock to be unranked in the next month or two. It is only a matter of time before DC Comics converts this ongoing series into a limited series or simply cancels it.
Speed Force #1 had easily the worst debut I have ever seen for a title from Marvel Comics or DC Comics. Speed Force #1 blew up at launch as it debuted at the number 193 spot! This title nearly went unranked with its debut issue. What a complete and total embarrassment for DC Comics. This six-issue limited series is a lock to be unranked with just its second issue. Wow.
This title stars the walking continuity error known as the New 52 Wally West. New 52 Wally is teamed up with Avery Ho. This was not a good issue as it read like a cheap American knock-off of a Japanese manga. Manga when done by the Japanese? Cool! Manga-style ripoffs done by Americans? Cringe! This read like a bunch of desperate DC Comics editors sitting around and saying “Hey! That manga stuff that is kicking our ass in sales every month…the kids seem to like it a lot. You know, we should do our own manga-style comic!”
For some reason, DC Comics decided to hand the writing duties to a comic book artist who has done the art for some indie comics. Yeah, I don’t get the logic, either. Again, DC Comics editorial staff inspires zero confidence with their continual clueless decision-making.
Legacy Character Titles
1 Spider-Boy #1 (Marvel Comics)
22 White Widow #1 (Marvel Comics)
32 Supergirl Special #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)
46 Titans #5 (DC Comics)
56 Nightwing #108 (DC Comics)
78 Titans Beast World #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
79 Outsiders #1 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
126 The Flash #3 (DC Comics) (Resolicitation)
168 Power Girl #3 (DC Comics)
182 Nightwing #107 (DC Comics) (Resolicitation)
Unranked: Titans: Beast World Evolution #1
Unranked: Cyborg #5
There was one legacy character title in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and four titles in the Top 50. This was better than October 2023 when there were zero legacy character titles in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and two titles in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were up as there were zero legacy character titles in the Top 10, one title in the Top 25, and two titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Titans #5 fell from the number 25 spot down to the number 46 spot. This is not a good sign for this young title. This is another franchise that DC Comics desperately needs to remain a consistent Top 50 seller. Hopefully, Titans will rebound next month.
Titans Beast World #1 had a terrible debut coming in at the number 78 spot. Having said that, this issue did ship in the final week of November 2023. But, it still had four variant covers to help power it. This is a bad start for Tom Taylor’s Titans “epic event.”
Evain Reis delivers a wonderful-looking issue in Titans Beast World #1. This issue is also action-packed with lots of big-name characters. I dunno. I liked this first issue. Maybe more readers will hop aboard in December 2023.
Titans: Beast World Evolution #1 failed to make the Top 200 and debuted unranked. To be fair, this was just a collection of older stories reprinted for this one-shot. These rarely sell well.
Cyborg #5 was unranked for the third straight month. What a complete disaster this mini-series has been for DC Comics.
Female Lead Titles
21 Wonder Woman #3 (DC Comics)
22 White Widow #1 (Marvel Comics)
32 Supergirl Special #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)
53 Poison Ivy #16 (DC Comics)
58 Scarlet Witch #10 (Marvel Comics)
59 Birds of Prey #3 (DC Comics)
68 Sensational She-Hulk #2 (Marvel Comics)
70 Sensational She-Hulk #1 (Marvel Comics) (Resolicitation)
72 Jean Grey #4 (Fall of X) (Marvel Comics)
93 Wonder Woman #2 (DC Comics) (Resolicitation)
101 Spider-Woman #1 (Gang War) (Marvel Comics)
114 Captain Marvel #2 (Marvel Comics)
120 Wonder Woman #1 Facsimile Edition (1987) (DC Comics)
129 Catwoman #59 (DC Comics)
136 Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38 (Dark Droids) (Marvel Comics)
138 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #4 (Marvel Comics)
147 Harley Quinn Black White Redder #5 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
154 Captain Marvel #1 (Marvel Comics) (Resolicitation)
159 Wonder Woman #1 (DC Comics) (Resolicitation)
168 Power Girl #3 (DC Comics)
172 Harley Quinn #34 (DC Comics)
175 Harley Quinn #33 (DC Comics) (Resolicitation)
185 Fire & Ice Welcome To Smallville #3 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
189 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #3 (Marvel Comics) (Resolicitation)
199 Jean Grey #3 (Fall of the X-Men) (Marvel Comics) (Resolicitation)
Unranked: Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest #5
Unranked: Hawkgirl #5
Unranked: Amazons Attack #2
Unranked: Wonder Woman: Outlaw Edition #1
There were zero female lead titles in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and three titles in the Top 50. Month-over-month numbers were flat in the Top 10 and Top 25 and down in the Top 50 when there were zero female lead titles in the Top 10, two titles in the Top 25, and five titles in the Top 50 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were flat in the Top 10, better in the Top 25, and flat in the Top 50 than in November 2022 when there were zero female lead titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and three titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Marvel placed one female lead title in the Top 25. Month-over-month numbers were flat as Marvel Comics had one female lead title in the Top 25 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up as Marvel Comics had zero female lead titles in the Top 25 in November 2022.
DC Comics had one female lead title in the Top 25. Month-over-month numbers were flat as DC Comics had one female lead title in the Top 25 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up as DC Comics also had zero female lead titles in the Top 25 in November 2022.
Marvel placed one female lead title in the Top 50. Month-over-month numbers were flat as Marvel Comics had one female lead title in the Top 50 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were down as Marvel Comics had two female lead titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
DC Comics had two female lead titles in the Top 50. Month-over-month numbers were down as DC Comics had four female lead titles in the Top 50 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up as DC Comics also had one female lead title in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Marvel placed five female lead titles in the Top 75. Month-over-month numbers were up as Marvel Comics had three female lead titles in the Top 75 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up as Marvel Comics had two female lead titles in the Top 75 in November 2022.
DC Comics had four female lead titles in the Top 75. Month-over-month numbers were down as DC Comics had five female lead titles in the Top 75 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up as DC Comics also had two female lead titles in the Top 75 in November 2022.
Marvel placed five female lead titles in the Top 100. Month-over-month numbers were flat as Marvel Comics had five female lead titles in the Top 100 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up as Marvel Comics had two female lead titles in the Top 100 in November 2022.
DC Comics had five female lead titles in the Top 100. Month-over-month numbers were down as DC Comics had six female lead titles in the Top 100 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were up as DC Comics also had four female lead titles in the Top 100 in November 2022.
Marvel Comics and DC Comics fought to a 5-5 draw. DC Comics does have the better female characters and should not be battling Marvel Comics to a draw in this category.
Minority Lead Titles
92 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #12 (Gang War) (Marvel Comics)
122 Blade #5 (Marvel Comics)
136 Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38 (Dark Droids) (Marvel Comics)
137 Black Panther #6 (Marvel Comics)
138 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #4 (Marvel Comics)
160 Green Lantern War Journal #3 (DC Comics)
170 Blue Beetle #3 (DC Comics)
173 Luke Cage Gang War #1 (Gang War) (Marvel Comics)
189 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #3 (Marvel Comics) (Resolicitation)
193 Speed Force #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
200 Spirit World #6 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
Unranked: Hawkgirl #5
Unranked: Cyborg #5
Unranked: Steelworks #6
Unranked: Amazons Attack #2
Unranked: City Boy #6
Unranked: The Vigil #6
There were zero minority lead titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and zero titles in the Top 50. This was worse than October 2023 when there were zero minority lead titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and one title in the Top 50. Year-over-year numbers were down as there were zero minority lead titles in the Top 10, zero titles in the Top 25, and one title in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Marvel placed zero minority lead titles in the Top 25. Month-over-month numbers were flat as Marvel Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 25 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were flat as Marvel Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 25 in November 2022.
DC Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 25. Month-over-month numbers were flat as DC Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 25 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were flat as DC Comics also had zero minority lead titles in the Top 25 in November 2022.
Marvel placed zero minority lead titles in the Top 50. Month-over-month numbers were down as Marvel Comics had one minority lead title in the Top 50 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were down as Marvel Comics had two minority lead titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
DC Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 50. Month-over-month numbers were flat as DC Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 50 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were flat as DC Comics also had zero minority lead titles in the Top 50 in November 2022.
Marvel placed zero minority lead titles in the Top 75. Month-over-month numbers were down as Marvel Comics had two minority lead titles in the Top 75 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were down as Marvel Comics had two minority lead titles in the Top 75 in November 2022.
DC Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 75. Month-over-month numbers were flat as DC Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 75 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were flat as DC Comics also had zero minority lead titles in the Top 75 in November 2022.
Marvel placed one minority lead title in the Top 100. Month-over-month numbers were down as Marvel Comics had four minority lead titles in the Top 100 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were down as Marvel Comics had three minority lead titles in the Top 100 in November 2022.
DC Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 100. Month-over-month numbers were flat as DC Comics had zero minority lead titles in the Top 100 in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were flat as DC Comics also had zero minority lead titles in the Top 100 in November 2022.
Marvel Comics “beat” DC Comics by a pathetic score of 1-0. Nobody won here. Both publishers continue to flail about cluelessly with these titles. Better editors and better writers are desperately needed in this category.
Blade #5 dropped from the number 72 back to the number 122 spot. This is the same place in the sales rankings as Blade #3. This is also despite shipping with a variant cover and an incentive cover. Bryan Hill is struggling to get readers interested in this title despite Blade being a popular character.
Spirit World #6 managed to conclude this mini-series by barely remaining ranked by taking the number 200 spot. This was another total sales disaster for DC Comics.
The other titles that spun out of the Lazarus Planet event were also complete sales failures. City Boy #6 concluded unranked. The Vigil #6 concluded unranked. DC Comics’ editorial continues to seem out of touch with what their consumers are looking to read.
Dead Titles Walking
Based on historical numbers from the Comichron as well as projections through April 2022, titles outside of the Top 100 are usually selling under the 18,000 unit sales mark. These are the Marvel Comics and DC Comics titles that are dead titles walking.
Marvel Comics
100-200
101 Spider-Woman #1 (Gang War)
102 Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #2
104 Captain America #3
108 Moon Knight City of the Dead #5
111 Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 #6
113 Marvel Zombies Black, White & Blood #2
114 Captain Marvel #2
122 Blade #5
127 Astonishing Iceman #4 (Fall of X)
136 Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38 (Dark Droids)
137 Black Panther #6
138 Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #4
142 Magneto #4
146 Star Wars Dark Droids – D-Squad #3 (Dark Droids)
150 Avengers Inc. #3
151 Star Wars Bounty Hunters #40 (Dark Droids)
155 Silver Surfer Rebirth: Legacy #3
165 Red Goblin #10
167 Capwolf & the Howling Commandos #2
173 Luke Cage Gang War #1 (Gang War)
178 Realm of X #4 (Fall of X)
Unranked: Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest #5
Unranked: Marvel Unleashed #4
Unranked: Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #3
Marvel Comics had twenty-four dead titles walking out of their seventy-eight new titles in November 2023. This means that 30% of Marvel Comics’ new titles in November 2023 were dead titles walking.
This was up sharply from the fourteen dead titles walking that Marvel Comics had in October 2023. Year-over-year numbers were also up as Marvel Comics had twenty-one dead titles walking in November 2022.
We need to start paying attention to the editors and their role in the failure of certain titles. After all, the editorial wields plenty of power that influences the creative team that is hired and the direction of the title.
Five Marvel Comics editors had two titles in the Dead Titles Walking category.
Tom Brevoort had two titles with Moon Knight City of the Dead #5 at the number 108 spot and Avengers Inc. #3 at the number 150 spot.
Mark Basso had two titles with Astonishing Iceman #4 at the number 127 spot and Magneto #4 at the 142 spot.
Sarah Brunstad had two titles with Captain Marvel #2 at the number 114 spot and Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest #5 which was unranked.
Lauren Amaro had two titles with Ms. Marvel The New Mutant #4 at the number 138 spot and Realm of X #4 at the number 178 spot.
Elie Pyle had two titles with Spider-Woman #1 at the number 101 spot and Luke Cage Gang War #1 at the number 173 spot.
Two Marvel Comics editors had three titles in the Dead Titles Walking category.
Wil Moss had three titles with Captain America #3 at the number 104 spot, Blade #5 at the number 122 spot, and Black Panther #6 at the number 137 spot.
Alanna Smith had three titles with Captain America #3 at the number 104 spot, Capwolf & the Howling Commandos #2 at the number 167 spot, and Marvel Unleashed #4 which was unranked.
However, the editor with the most titles in the Dead Titles Walking category was Mark Paniccia. Paniccia had four titles with Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 #6 at the number 111 spot, Star Wars Dark Droids – D-Squad #3 at the number 146 spot, Star Wars Bounty Hunters #40 at the number 151 spot, and Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #3 which was unranked.
DC Comics
100-200
103 Superman Lost #8 (Of 10)
110 Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #12
112 Action Comics #1059
115 Batman 89 Echoes #1 (Of 6)
119 Wesley Dodds The Sandman #2 (Of 6)
126 The Flash #3
129 Catwoman #59
134 Green Arrow #6 (Of 6)
139 Superman ’78 The Metal Curtain #1 (Of 6)
140 Danger Street #11 (Of 12)
147 Harley Quinn Black White Redder #5 (Of 6)
158 Jay Garrick The Flash #2 (Of 6)
160 Green Lantern War Journal #3
168 Power Girl #3
170 Blue Beetle #3
172 Harley Quinn #34
183 Alan Scott The Green Lantern #2 (Of 6)
185 Fire & Ice Welcome To Smallville #3 (Of 6)
188 Penguin #4
192 Wildcats #12
193 Speed Force #1 (Of 6)
196 Batman The Brave And The Bold #7
200 Spirit World #6 (Of 6)
Unranked: Hawkgirl #5
Unranked: Cyborg #5
Unranked: Steelworks #6
Unranked: Amazons Attack #2
Unranked: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Special #1
Unranked: City Boy #6
Unranked: The Vigil #6
Unranked: Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic #5
Unranked: Looney Tunes #275
DC Comics had thirty-two dead titles walking out of DC Comics’ fifty-six new titles in November 2023. This means that a shocking 57% of the New DC Comics’ titles in November 2023 were dead titles walking.
This was up from the twenty-six dead titles walking that DC Comics had in October 2023 which comprised 46% of DC Comics’ new titles. Year-over-year numbers were flat as DC Comics also had thirty-two dead titles walking in November 2022. However, the percentage of dead titles walking was up as DC Comics had 49% of their new titles in the dead titles walking category in November 2022.
This highlights the total failure of the Dawn of DC initiative. It is not going to take another rebrand to fix DC Comics. It is going to take a total house cleaning of the people in charge and the editorial staff because the fish rots from the head.
As we mentioned above, we are going to pay attention to the editors in this category. This is even more important when examining DC Comics as it is a publisher in crisis. If DC Comics is going to ever become a credible competitor to Marvel Comics then changes in the editorial staff are inevitable.
Two DC Comics editors had two titles in the Dead Titles Walking category.
Chris Rosa had two titles with The Flash #3 at the number 126 spot and Speed Force #1 at the number 193 spot.
Arianna Turturro had two titles with Catwoman #59 at the number 129 spot and Harley Quinn #34 at the number 172 spot.
Two DC Comics editors had three titles in the Dead Titles Walking category.
Jessica Chen had three titles with Spirit World #6 at the number 200 spot, City Boy #6 which was unranked, and The Vigil #6 which was unranked.
Paul Kaminski had three titles with Action Comics #1059 at the number 112 spot, Green Lantern War Journal #3 at the number 160 spot, and Steelworks #6 which was unranked.
Two DC Comics editors had four titles in the Dead Titles Walking category.
Ben Abernathy had four titles with Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #12 at the number 110 spot, Green Arrow #6 at the number 134 spot, Penguin #4 at the number 188 spot, and Wildcats #12 at the number 192 spot.
Brittany Holzher had four titles with Superman Lost #8 at the number 103 spot, Danger Street #11 at the number 140 spot, Power Girl #3 at the number 168 spot, and Amazons Attack #2 which was unranked.
Andrew Marino had six titles in the Dead Titles Walking category. Five of Marino’s six titles are six-issue mini-series. Marino’s six titles were Batman 89 Echoes #1 at the number 115 spot, Wesley Dodds The Sandman #2 at the number 119 spot, Superman ’78 The Metal Curtain #1 at the number 139 spot, Jay Garrick The Flash #2 at the number 158 spot, Blue Beetle #3 at the number 170 spot, and Alan Scott The Green Lantern #2 at the number 183 spot.
The Tini Howard Award For The Writer With The Most Dead Titles Walking
Several writers placed two issues in the Dead Titles Walking category.
Robert Venditti had two issues with Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #2 at the number 119 spot and Superman ’78 The Metal Curtain #1 at the number 139 spot.
Matthew Rosenberg had two issues with Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing #12 at the number 110 spot and Wildcats #12 at the number 192 spot.
Rodney Barnes had two issues with Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 #6 at the number 111 spot and Luke Cage Gang War #1 at the number 173 spot.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson had two issues with Action Comics #1059 at the number 112 spot and Green Lantern War Journal #3 at the number 160 spot.
Tini Howard had two issues with Catwoman #59 at the number 129 spot and Harley Quinn #34 at the number 172 spot.
Tom King had two issues with Danger Street #11 at the number 140 spot and Penguin #4 at the number 188 spot. Tom King won the Tini Howard Award last month, but he fell in defeat to this month’s champ.
In the end, it was Alyssa Wong shoving everyone aside to grab the top spot by placing three issues in the Dead Titles Walking category with Captain Marvel #2 at the number 114 spot, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38 at the number 136 spot, and Spirit World #6 at the number 200 spot.
Therefore, the Tini Howard Award for November 2023 goes to… multiple-time winner Alysa Wong!
All right, that is it for November 2023 Will Marvel Comics continue its domination of the Top 200 in December 2023? We will find out. Until then, everyone stay safe and be good!
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