Joss Whedon

No particular big theme for Marvel in August - MARVEL PREVIEWS for this month led with X-MEN: THE END #1, two new miniseries in the Ultimate imprint, and Andy Kubert returning to ULTIMATE X-MEN. Meanwhile, Avengers Disassembled continues to spread across the line.

But first, it’s fourth time lucky...

As always, thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for permission to use their figures for these calculations

1. ASTONISHING X-MEN
May Astonishing X-Men #1 - 265,134
Jun Astonishing X-Men #2 - 136,158 (-48.6%)
Jul Astonishing X-Men #3 - 129,362 ( -5.0%)
Aug Astonishing X-Men #4 - 145,543 (+12.5%)

Four issues in, ASTONISHING X-MEN finally succeeds in its assigned mission, and reclaims the top spot from DC. And by a fairly comfortable margin, too - the number 2 book, SUPERMAN #208, has orders of 129,256. Of course, variant covers play a part in this as well, but Marvel are sure to be delighted with these numbers.

There’s also a collected edition of issues #1-3, which charts at number #198 with orders of 5,548.


4,7. X-MEN: THE END
Aug X-Men: The End, Book One #1 (of 6) - 109,587
Aug X-Men: The End, Book One #2 (of 6) - 98,578 (-10.0%)

Perhaps higher than you might expect for a book set in an alternate future, but there are precedents for this. WOLVERINE: THE END #1 moved 116,209 copies back in November 2003. It didn’t keep up that level of sales, of course, although the fact that it’s virtually incomprehensible and only ships once every two or three months can’t have helped. X-MEN: THE END has had somewhat mixed reviews, but Claremont’s hardcore fanbase seem to love it, and the 10% drop for issue #2 isn’t bad.


5. ULTIMATE X-MEN
Aug Ultimate X-Men #36 - 110,492 ( +0.7%)
Sep Ultimate X-Men #37 - 108,612 ( -1.7%)
Oct Ultimate X-Men #38 - 108,112 ( -0.5%)
Nov Ultimate X-Men #39 - 105,737 ( -2.2%)
Dec Ultimate X-Men #40 - 104,443 ( -1.2%)
Jan Ultimate X-Men #41 - 99,532 ( -4.7%)
Feb Ultimate X-Men #42 - 97,299 ( -2.2%)
Mar Ultimate X-Men #43 - 97,002 ( -0.3%)
Apr Ultimate X-Men #44 - 96,264 ( -0.8%)
May Ultimate X-Men #45 - 96,698 ( +0.5%)
May Ultimate X-Men #46 - 96,652 ( -0.0%)
Jun Ultimate X-Men #47 - 95,254 ( -1.4%)
Jun Ultimate X-Men #48 - 94,238 ( -1.1%)
Jul Ultimate X-Men #49 - 93,572 ( -0.7%)
Aug Ultimate X-Men #50 - 103,154 (+10.2%)
6 mnth ( +6.0%)
1 year ( -6.6%)

The return of Andy Kubert and an anniversary issue combine to deliver a respectable increase - though not large enough to recoup all of the last year’s losses. This is also the return of Ultimate Gambit (who’d previously only appeared in a two-issue fill-in by Chuck Austen), which might also be playing a part. I’m a little more sceptical about that, but we’ll see next month what the retailers think of Gambit’s drawing power when his solo title launches.


6. ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE
Aug Ultimate Nightmare #1 (of 5) - 102,655

A very good debut for the Ultimates/X-Men team-up miniseries. The Ultimate imprint still has the sort of brand value where a new Ultimate book can still be catapulted into the top ten (although having said that, we’ll see later on that ULTIMATE ELEKTRA didn’t make it). It also keeps the Ultimates in the public eye while their title is on hiatus.


8,10. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
Aug Ultimate Spider-Man #44 - 102,429 ( +1.1%)
Aug Ultimate Spider-Man #45 - 100,619 ( -1.8%)
Sep Ultimate Spider-Man #46 - 105,409 ( +4.8%)
Oct Ultimate Spider-Man #47 - 99,662 ( -5.5%)
Oct Ultimate Spider-Man #48 - 98,747 ( -0.9%)
Nov Ultimate Spider-Man #49 - 96,707 ( -2.1%)
Dec Ultimate Spider-Man #50 - 109,819 (+13.6%)
Dec Ultimate Spider-Man #51 - 98,085 (-10.7%)
Jan Ultimate Spider-Man #52 - 95,854 ( -2.3%)
Feb Ultimate Spider-Man #53 - 92,540 ( -3.5%)
Mar Ultimate Spider-Man #54 - 93,025 ( +5.2%)
Mar Ultimate Spider-Man #55 - 91,525 ( -1.6%)
Apr Ultimate Spider-Man #56 - 91,585 ( +0.1%)
Apr Ultimate Spider-Man #57 - 90,784 ( -0.9%)
May Ultimate Spider-Man #58 - 90,963 ( +0.2%)
May Ultimate Spider-Man #59 - 89,863 ( -1.2%)
Jun Ultimate Spider-Man #60 - 104,789 (+16.6%)
Jun Ultimate Spider-Man #61 - 101,159 ( -3.5%)
Jul Ultimate Spider-Man #62 - 98,963 ( -2.2%)
Aug Ultimate Spider-Man #63 - 96,279 ( -2.7%)
Aug Ultimate Spider-Man #64 - 94,682 ( -1.7%)
6 mnth ( +2.3%)
1 year ( -7.6%)

The Carnage storyline continues, and sales drift back to more normal levels.


9. UNCANNY X-MEN
Aug Uncanny X-Men #429 - 93,866 ( +0.3%)
Sep Uncanny X-Men #430 - 94,165 ( +0.3%)
Sep Uncanny X-Men #431 - 92,341 ( -1.9%)
Oct Uncanny X-Men #432 - 92,472 ( +0.1%)
Nov Uncanny X-Men #433 - 90,764 ( -1.8%)
Dec Uncanny X-Men #434 - 90,318 ( -0.5%)
Dec Uncanny X-Men #435 - 89,767 ( -0.6%)
Dec Uncanny X-Men #436 - 89,105 ( -0.7%)
Jan Uncanny X-Men #437 - 89,897 ( +0.9%)
Jan Uncanny X-Men #438 - 88,490 ( -1.6%)
Feb Uncanny X-Men #439 - 86,259 ( -2.5%)
Feb Uncanny X-Men #440 - 85,712 ( -0.6%)
Mar Uncanny X-Men #441 - 86,431 ( +0.8%)
Apr Uncanny X-Men #442 - 86,975 ( +0.6%)
Apr Uncanny X-Men #443 - 86,002 ( -1.1%)
May Uncanny X-Men #444 - 112,129 (+30.4%)
Jun Uncanny X-Men #445 - 98,660 (-12.0%)
Jul Uncanny X-Men #446 - 96,961 ( -1.7%)
Aug Uncanny X-Men #447 - 95,838 ( -1.2%)
6 mnth (+11.8%)
1 year ( +2.1%)

UNCANNY seems to be levelling out very quickly. Marvel should be happy enough with these numbers - it’s at the bottom end of the top ten, but it seems very stable. It’s also showing gains over both the 6 month and 1 year periods.

For some reason, the chart also lists UNCANNY X-MEN #448 - the September issue - as charting at number 292 with orders of 1,200. Advance shipped copies, I suppose, and I’ll add them into next month’s figures.


11. X-MEN
Aug New X-Men #144 - 99,737 ( -0.1%)
Sep New X-Men #145 - 101,295 ( +1.6%)
Sep New X-Men #146 - 105,573 ( +4.2%)
Oct New X-Men #147 - 105,647 ( +0.1%)
Oct New X-Men #148 - 103,010 ( -2.5%)
Nov New X-Men #149 - 102,591 ( -0.4%)
Dec New X-Men #150 - 110,591 ( +7.8%)
Jan New X-Men #151 - 124,012 (+12.1%)
Jan New X-Men #152 - 120,638 ( -2.7%)
Feb New X-Men #153 - 116,422 ( -3.5%)
Mar New X-Men #154 - 117,253 ( +0.7%)
Apr New X-Men #155 - 100,088 (-14.6%)
Apr New X-Men #156 - 98,785 ( -1.3%)
May X-Men #157 - 107,185 ( +8.5%)
Jun X-Men #158 - 96,759 ( -9.7%)
Jul X-Men #159 - 93,164 ( -3.7%)
Aug X-Men #160 - 91,790 ( -1.5%)
6 mnth (-21.2%)
1 year ( -8.0%)

Another title that seems to be levelling out respectably. Comparison with Grant Morrison’s numbers makes these figures seem a lot worse than they are. If you compared these numbers with the same creative team’s run on UNCANNY X-MEN, they’d be showing a six month gain of 6.4% (although sales would still have gone down over the year).

Austen’s final issue is #164, and it’ll be interesting to see how the book gets on under Peter Milligan, a somewhat leftfield replacement.


12. ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR
Dec Ultimate Fantastic Four #1 - 188,552
Jan Ultimate Fantastic Four #2 - 126,693 (-32.8%)
Feb Ultimate Fantastic Four #3 - 109,801 (-13.3%)
Mar Ultimate Fantastic Four #4 - 108,396 ( -1.3%)
Apr Ultimate Fantastic Four #5 - 104,063 ( -4.0%)
May n/a
Jun Ultimate Fantastic Four #6 - 100,972 ( -3.0%)
Jun Ultimate Fantastic Four #7 - 99,445 ( -1.5%)
Jun Ultimate Fantastic Four #8 - 96,694 ( -2.8%)
Jul Ultimate Fantastic Four #9 - 94,094 ( -2.7%)
Aug Ultimate Fantastic Four #10 - 90,670 ( -3.6%)
6 mnth (-17.4%)

Dropping out of the top 10, and losing readers at an increasing pace. This one doesn’t quite seem to be capturing the imagination and holding its audience in the same way that earlier Ultimate titles have, but these are still decent enough numbers. Issue #9 picks up 1,171 re-orders to chart at number 295.


13. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Aug Amazing Spider-Man #56 - 92,277 ( -3.3%)
Aug Amazing Spider-Man #57 - 93,469 ( +1.3%)
Sep Amazing Spider-Man #58 - 92,294 ( -1.3%)
Oct Amazing Spider-Man #500 - 148,928 (+61.4%)
Nov Amazing Spider-Man #501 - 94,558 (-36.5%)
Dec Amazing Spider-Man #502 - 90,484 ( -4.3%)
Jan Amazing Spider-Man #503 - 87,341 ( -3.5%)
Feb Amazing Spider-Man #504 - 84,064 ( -3.7%)
Mar Amazing Spider-Man #505 - 83,613 ( -0.5%)
Apr Amazing Spider-Man #506 - 83,152 ( -0.6%)
May Amazing Spider-Man #507 - 81,944 ( -1.5%)
Jun Amazing Spider-Man #508 - 82,268 ( +0.4%)
Jun Amazing Spider-Man #509 - 101,632 (+23.5%)
Jul Amazing Spider-Man #510 - 86,181 (-15.2%)
Aug Amazing Spider-Man #511 - 88,118 ( +2.2%)
6 mnth ( +4.8%)
1 year ( -4.5%)

Here’s something unusual - a book going up mid-storyline. Issue #510 gets 1,431 reorders to chart at number 283, and retailers up the orders again for issue #511. Looks like an upward correction, with the "Sins Past" storyline drawing more interest than they’d originally expected. It’s enough to give the book a reasonable 6-month gain, but it’s still down year on year.


14. MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN
Apr Marvel Knights Spider-Man #1 - 137,314
May Marvel Knights Spider-Man #2 - 99,320 (-27.7%)
Jun Marvel Knights Spider-Man #3 - 82,715 (-16.7%)
Jul Marvel Knights Spider-Man #4 - 75,508 ( -8.7%)
Aug Marvel Knights Spider-Man #5 - 75,562 ( +0.1%)

After three months of somewhat worrying drops, MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN suddenly levels out. In fact, it shows a very small gain. Marvel can breathe a sigh of relief - for the moment, it looks like the book has found its level.


16. ULTIMATE ELEKTRA
Aug Ultimate Elektra #1 (of 5) - 68,340

A little below the level we normally expect from Ultimate book, but then ULTIMATE ELEKTRA - like the previous series, ULTIMATE DAREDEVIL & ELEKTRA - is really off to the side of the main line. This is presumably intended to get more Elektra-related product ready for trade paperback publication when her movie comes out. Fair enough, although it does seem a little bit out of place in the Ultimate imprint, and the orders reflect that. Mind you, it shows the strength of the Ultimate brand name that the book got this high.


17. X-FORCE
Aug X-Force #1 - 66,620

The barbarians are at the gates.

In typical Marvel style these days, there seems to be some confusion as to whether this is meant to be an ongoing title or a miniseries. The solicitations say it’s an ongoing series, as does the chart. And, for what it’s worth, the indicia don’t say anything about it being a miniseries (which is normally mentioned expressly these days). So I’m working on the assumption that it’s a full-blown ongoing title.

This is a good debut, so the book could be around for some while to come. Mind you, a little Rob Liefeld tends to go a long way...


18. WOLVERINE
Aug Wolverine #4 - 86,145 ( -5.0%)
Sep Wolverine #5 - 81,728 ( -5.1%)
Oct Wolverine #6 - 82,074 ( +0.4%)
Nov Wolverine #7 - 78,734 ( -4.1%)
Nov Wolverine #8 - 77,040 ( -2.2%)
Dec Wolverine #9 - 74,659 ( -3.1%)
Jan Wolverine #10 - 71,374 ( -4.4%)
Feb Wolverine #11 - 69,686 ( -2.4%)
Mar Wolverine #12 - 69,815 ( +0.2%)
Apr Wolverine #13 - 71,060 ( +1.8%)
Apr Wolverine #14 - 70,881 ( -0.3%)
May Wolverine #15 - 68,728 ( -3.0%)
Jun Wolverine #16 - 67,519 ( -1.8%)
Jul Wolverine #17 - 66,589 ( -1.4%)
Aug Wolverine #18 - 65,304 ( -1.9%)
6 mnth ( -6.3%)
1 year (-24.2%)

The penultimate Rucka/Robertson issue. Still dropping, but the book is due for a push when Millar and Romita take over with issue #20.


20. SUPREME POWER
Aug Supreme Power #1 - 96,161
Sep Supreme Power #2 - 77,496 (-19.4%)
Oct Supreme Power #3 - 77,123 ( -0.5%)
Nov Supreme Power #4 - 71,620 ( -7.1%)
Dec Supreme Power #5 - 70,321 ( -1.8%)
Jan Supreme Power #6 - 67,340 ( -4.2%)
Feb Supreme Power #7 - 65,423 ( -2.8%)
Mar Supreme Power #8 - 64,429 ( -1.5%)
Apr Supreme Power #9 - 64,284 ( -0.2%)
May Supreme Power #10 - 63,292 ( -1.5%)
Jun n/a
Jul Supreme Power #11 - 63,007 ( -0.5%)
Aug Supreme Power #12 - 61,798 ( -1.9%)
6 mnth ( -5.5%)
1 year (-35.7%)

Still drifting downwards.


23. EXCALIBUR
May Excalibur #1 - 75,257
Jun Excalibur #2 - 59,791 (-20.6%)
Jul Excalibur #3 - 57,740 ( -3.4%)
Aug Excalibur #4 - 56,153 ( -2.7%)

Reaction to the book has been rather mixed, but it seems to be levelling out nonetheless.


24. SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN
Aug Spectacular Spider-Man #3 - 78,080 (-14.7%)
Sep Spectacular Spider-Man #4 - 74,527 ( -4.6%)
Oct Spectacular Spider-Man #5 - 71,665 ( -3.8%)
Nov Spectacular Spider-Man #6 - 67,633 ( -5.6%)
Nov Spectacular Spider-Man #7 - 66,065 ( -2.3%)
Dec Spectacular Spider-Man #8 - 62,721 ( -0.6%)
Jan Spectacular Spider-Man #9 - 58,711 ( -6.4%)
Feb Spectacular Spider-Man #10 - 55,746 ( -5.1%)
Mar Spectacular Spider-Man #11 - 54,066 ( -3.0%)
Mar Spectacular Spider-Man #12 - 53,549 ( -1.0%)
Apr Spectacular Spider-Man #13 - 52,835 ( -1.3%)
May Spectacular Spider-Man #14 - 51,036 ( -3.4%)
Jun Spectacular Spider-Man #15 - 50,997 ( -0.0%)
Jun Spectacular Spider-Man #16 - 50,515 ( -0.9%)
Jul Spectacular Spider-Man #17 - 51,335 ( +1.6%)
Aug Spectacular Spider-Man #18 - 52,271 ( +1.8%)
6 mnth ( -6.2%)
1 year (-33.1%)

The Avengers Disassembled crossover continues, and the book climbs for the second month running. By the way, I use the word "crossover" in the loosest imaginable sense. Despite the big "Disassembled" logo on the front cover, the actual story seems to have nothing whatsoever to do with the crossover, other than the mere fact of guest starring Captain America. Seems to be boosting sales anyway, but from what we’ve seen so far, readers who picked it up for the crossover tie-in could be forgiven for wondering whether they’ve been had.


25. DAREDEVIL
Aug Daredevil #50 - 65,398 ( +8.7%)
Sep Daredevil #51 - 59,636 ( -8.8%)
Sep Daredevil #52 - 58,561 ( -1.8%)
Oct Daredevil #53 - 58,620 ( +0.1%)
Nov Daredevil #54 - 57,557 ( -1.8%)
Dec Daredevil #55 - 53,660 ( -6.8%)
Jan Daredevil #56 - 56,351 ( +5.0%)
Feb Daredevil #57 - 54,644 ( -3.0%)
Mar Daredevil #58 - 54,400 ( -0.4%)
Apr Daredevil #59 - 54,398 ( -0.0%)
May Daredevil #60 - 54,012 ( -0.7%)
Jun Daredevil #61 - 53,770 ( -0.4%)
Jul Daredevil #62 - 52,936 ( -1.6%)
Aug Daredevil #63 - 52,090 ( -1.6%)
6 mnth ( -4.7%)
1 year (-20.3%)

Drifting down.


26. NEW X-MEN / NEW MUTANTS
Aug n/a
Sep New Mutants #4 - 41,448 ( -5.0%)
Oct New Mutants #5 - 41,301 ( -0.4%)
Oct New Mutants #6 - 40,644 ( -1.6%)
Nov New Mutants #7 - 38,830 ( -4.5%)
Dec n/a
Jan n/a
Feb New Mutants #8 - 37,609 ( -3.1%)
Feb New Mutants #9 - 36,037 ( -4.2%)
Mar New Mutants #10 - 34,841 ( -3.3%)
Apr New Mutants #11 - 34,148 ( -2.0%)
Apr New Mutants #12 - 33,481 ( -2.0%)
Apr New Mutants #13 - 32,994 ( -1.5%)
May New X-Men: Academy X #1 - 76,416 (+131.6%)
Jun New X-Men #2 - 58,844 ( -23.0%)
Jul New X-Men #3 - 55,304 ( -6.0%)
Aug New X-Men #4 - 51,902 ( -6.2%)
6 mnth ( +44.0%)
1 year ( +25.2%)

One of the big winners from X-Men Reload, NEW X-MEN has held on to a surprising number of the readers they picked up. Orders on issue #1 were of course inflated, because they were tied to variant covers on another book. But NEW X-MEN remains comfortably ahead of pre-relaunch levels. Granted, it’s still losing 6% a month, which is too fast. But it’s way ahead of its previous sales, and it’s bought itself plenty of leeway to settle down.

28. FANTASTIC FOUR
Aug Fantastic Four #502 - 54,084 (-3.4%)
Aug Fantastic Four #503 - 53,789 (-0.5%)
Sep Fantastic Four #504 - 53,885 (+0.1%)
Oct Fantastic Four #505 - 52,850 (-2.0%)
Nov Fantastic Four #506 - 51,721 (-2.1%)
Nov Fantastic Four #507 - 51,179 (-1.0%)
Dec Fantastic Four #508 - 50,333 (-1.7%)
Jan Fantastic Four #509 - 50,260 (-0.1%)
Feb Fantastic Four #510 - 49,129 (-2.3%)
Mar Fantastic Four #511 - 50,089 (+2.0%)
Apr Fantastic Four #512 - 52,953 (+5.7%)
May Fantastic Four #513 - 50,936 (-3.8%)
Jun Fantastic Four #514 - 49,895 (-2.0%)
Jul Fantastic FOur #515 - 48,449 (-2.9%)
Jul Fantastic Four #516 - 48,580 (+0.3%)
Aug Fantastic Four #517 - 50,247 (+3.4%)
6 mnth (+2.3%)
1 year (-7.1%)

Another book climbing on the basis of an almost entirely spurious Avengers Disassembled "crossover". If you haven’t read the book, it’s a crossover because the Avengers aren’t available, so the authorities call in the FF instead. Seriously, that’s it. One wonders whether readers will be a little more sceptical the next time Marvel try something like this. To be fair, the previous issue was nudging up as well, but the pattern suggests that Avengers Disassembled is the major factor behind this month’s sales gains - it’s delivered similar boosts to the other tie-ins.


30. VENOM VS CARNAGE
Jul Venom vs Carnage #1 (of 4) - 56,795
Aug Venom vs Carnage #2 (of 4) - 46,517 (-18.1%)

About normal for the second issue of a miniseries.


33. PUNISHER
Aug Punisher #30 - 37,370 ( -3.8%)
Sep Punisher #31 - 37,007 ( -1.0%)
Sep Punisher #32 - 37,240 ( +0.6%)
Oct Punisher #33 - 42,130 (+13.1%)
Oct Punisher #34 - 41,441 ( -1.6%)
Nov Punisher #35 - 39,081 ( -5.7%)
Nov Punisher #36 - 39,217 ( +0.3%)
Dec Punisher #37 - 38,561 ( -1.7%)
Jan Punisher #1 - 56,334 (+46.1%)
Jan Punisher #2 - 49,183 (-12.7%)
Feb Punisher #3 - 46,396 ( -5.7%)
Mar Punisher #4 - 47,096 ( +1.5%)
Apr Punisher #5 - 49,080 ( +4.2%)
May Punisher #6 - 48,576 ( -1.0%)
Jun Punisher #7 - 48,124 ( -0.9%)
Jun Punisher #8 - 47,476 ( -1.3%)
Jul Punisher #9 - 46,882 ( -1.3%)
Aug Punisher #10 - 45,396 ( -3.2%)
6 mnth ( -2.2%)
1 year (+21.5%)

Still dropping, but these are respectable numbers for a mature readers book, and they remain comfortably up on last year.


37. DOCTOR SPECTRUM
Aug Doctor Spectrum #1 (of 6) - 44,218

The SQUADRON SUPREME spin-off series debuts about 16,000 below the parent book. Perfectly good numbers for a spin-off book.


38,41. INCREDIBLE HULK
Aug Incredible Hulk #59 - 59,336 ( -5.5%)
Sep Incredible Hulk #60 - 58,584 ( -1.3%)
Sep Incredible Hulk #61 - 57,298 ( -2.2%)
Oct Incredible Hulk #62 - 55,530 ( -3.1%)
Nov Incredible Hulk #63 - 53,357 ( -3.9%)
Dec Incredible Hulk #64 - 51,960 ( -2.6%)
Jan Incredible Hulk #65 - 49,049 ( -5.6%)
Jan Incredible Hulk #66 - 48,560 ( -1.0%)
Feb Incredible Hulk #67 - 47,632 ( -1.9%)
Mar Incredible Hulk #68 - 46,138 ( -3.1%)
Mar Incredible Hulk #69 - 45,754 ( -0.8%)
Apr Incredible Hulk #70 - 46,161 ( +0.9%)
Apr Incredible Hulk #71 - 46,837 ( +1.5%)
May Incredible Hulk #72 - 45,385 ( -3.1%)
Jun Incredible Hulk #73 - 44,249 ( -2.5%)
Jul Incredible Hulk #74 - 43,383 ( -2.0%)
Aug Incredible Hulk #75 - 44,066 ( +1.6%)
Aug Incredible Hulk #76 - 42,298 ( -4.0%)
6 mnth (-11.2%)
1 year (-28.7%)

A rather desultory increase for issue #75, but the trend is still down. After this issue, the book goes on hiatus for a few months in favour of the HULK/THING mini. Then it returns with Peter David, and from the look of these numbers, a change of direction is exactly what it needs.


40. INVADERS
Jul Invaders #0 - 46,537
Aug Invaders #1 - 42,577 (-8.5%)

Not bad numbers at all, actually. 8.5% isn’t too bad for a second issue drop. Mind you, the big drop could still be coming next month. I’m still more than a little sceptical that there’s really a substantial audience out there for an INVADERS book in 2004, but perhaps I’m going to be proved wrong.


45. WOLVERINE/PUNISHER
Mar Wolverine/Punisher #1 (of 5) - 59,685
Apr Wolverine/Punisher #2 (of 5) - 51,155 (-14.3%)
May Wolverine/Punisher #3 (of 5) - 47,699 ( -6.8%)
Jun Wolverine/Punisher #4 (of 5) - 44,019 ( -7.7%)
Jul n/a
Aug Wolverine/Punisher #5 (of 5) - 40,828 ( -7.2%)

Standard miniseries numbers.


46. ROGUE
Jul Rogue #1 - 50,727
Aug Rogue #2 - 39,910 (-21.3%)

Ow. That’s a very steep drop for the second issue. Retailers seem to be very cagey about this book, and that doesn’t bode well for the upcoming GAMBIT, NIGHTCRAWLER and JUBILEE solo titles. One wonders how much damage Marvel are doing to the X-books’ brand value by publishing quite so many of them - around 20 in August. With the X-Men so overexposed to start with, who really has the appetite for even more solo books?


47. MARVEL KNIGHTS 4
Feb Marvel Knights 4 #1 - 61,388
Feb Marvel Knights 4 #2 - 53,459 (-12.9%)
Mar Marvel Knights 4 #3 - 45,604 (-14.7%)
Apr Marvel Knights 4 #4 - 45,926 ( +0.7%)
Apr Marvel Knights 4 #5 - 45,227 ( -1.5%)
May n/a
Jun Marvel Knights 4 #6 - 44,076 ( -2.5%)
Jul Marvel Knights 4 #7 - 43,010 ( -2.4%)
Jul Marvel Knights 4 #8 - 41,312 ( -3.9%)
Aug Marvel Knights 4 #9 - 39,743 ( -3.8%)
6 mnth (-35.3%)

Still dropping...


50. CAPTAIN AMERICA
Aug Captain America #16 - 43,123 ( -5.3%)
Sep Captain America #17 - 43,295 ( +0.3%)
Sep Captain America #18 - 42,711 ( -1.3%)
Oct Captain America #19 - 42,356 ( -0.8%)
Nov Captain America #20 - 41,143 ( -2.9%)
Dec Captain America #21 - 43,018 ( +4.6%)
Jan Captain America #22 - 41,266 ( -4.1%)
Feb Captain America #23 - 39,695 ( -3.8%)
Mar Captain America #24 - 39,168 ( -1.3%)
Apr Captain America #25 - 38,584 ( -1.5%)
May Captain America #26 - 37,558 ( -2.7%)
Jun Captain America #27 - 36,212 ( -3.6%)
Jun Captain America #28 - 35,664 ( -1.5%)
Jul Captain America #29 - 40,221 (+12.8%)
Aug Captain America #30 - 38,464 ( -4.4%)
6 mnth ( -3.1%)
1 year (-10.8%)

Unusually, an Avengers Disassembled crossover which is actually going down. It’s still above recent months, though, and CAPTAIN AMERICA got an unusually large gain for the arrival of Robert Kirkman last month. The book is still benefitting, and anyway, there’s a relaunch around the corner.


51,54. EXILES
Aug Exiles #30 - 41,269 ( +1.4%)
Aug Exiles #31 - 40,666 ( -1.5%)
Aug Exiles #32 - 40,548 ( -0.3%)
Sep Exiles #33 - 41,635 ( +2.7%)
Sep Exiles #34 - 40,934 ( -1.7%)
Oct Exiles #35 - 40,730 ( -0.5%)
Oct Exiles #36 - 40,601 ( -0.3%)
Nov Exiles #37 - 40,272 ( -0.8%)
Dec Exiles #38 - 38,542 ( -4.3%)
Dec Exiles #39 - 38,313 ( -0.6%)
Jan Exiles #40 - 37,277 ( -2.7%)
Jan Exiles #41 - 37,072 ( -0.5%)
Feb Exiles #42 - 37,147 ( +0.2%)
Feb Exiles #43 - 37,054 ( -0.3%)
Mar Exiles #44 - 37,575 ( +1.4%)
Apr Exiles #45 - 37,878 ( +0.8%)
May Exiles #46 - 38,788 ( +2.4%)
May Exiles #47 - 38,327 ( -1.2%)
Jun Exiles #48 - 38,120 ( -0.5%)
Jul Exiles #49 - 37,184 ( -2.5%)
Aug Exiles #50 - 37,958 ( +2.1%)
Aug Exiles #51 - 36,946 ( -2.7%)
6 mnth ( -0.3%)
1 year (-10.5%)

Token desultory increase for issue #50. Otherwise, a very slight downward drift is setting in. Overall, the book remains remarkably consistent over the last eight months or so.


52,60. AMAZING FANTASY
Jun Amazing Fantasy #1 - 62,056
Jul n/a
Aug Amazing Fantasy #2 - 37,047 (-40.3%)
Aug Amazing Fantasy #3 - 33,917 ( -8.4%)

Yikes. A drop of over 40% for issue #2 is... not good. Not good at all. To be fair, sales on issue #1 were artificially increased by tying it to a variant cover on another title. But then, the point of that stunt is to get lots of extra copies on the shelves in the hope of boosting sales. Retailers are having none of it, slashing their orders at the first opportunity. These are bad numbers for a title which was so heavily promoted, and Marvel have got to be worried. This title is underperforming badly.


55. THOR
Aug Thor #67 - 32,279 ( -3.8%)
Sep Thor #68 - 32,354 ( +0.2%)
Oct Thor #69 - 32,991 ( +2.0%)
Oct Thor #70 - 32,334 ( -2.0%)
Nov Thor #71 - 31,706 ( -1.9%)
Dec Thor #72 - 31,953 ( +0.8%)
Jan Thor #73 - 31,141 ( -2.5%)
Feb Thor #74 - 30,538 ( -1.9%)
Mar Thor #75 - 31,531 ( +3.3%)
Mar Thor #76 - 30,806 ( -2.3%)
Apr Thor #77 - 30,819 ( +0.0%)
May Thor #78 - 30,562 ( -0.8%)
May Thor #79 - 30,270 ( -1.0%)
Jun Thor #80 - 32,567 ( +7.6%)
Jun Thor #81 - 32,517 ( -0.2%)
Jul Thor #82 - 36,094 (+11.0%)
Aug Thor #83 - 36,519 ( +1.2%)
6 mnth (+19.6%)
1 year (+13.1%)

Another Avengers Disassembled tie-in gain. Academic, of course, since the book is scheduled for cancellation in favour of an as-yet-unscheduled relaunch.


61. X-MEN UNLIMITED
Feb X-Men Unlimited #1 - 52,865
Mar n/a
Apr X-Men Unlimited #2 - 42,597 (-19.4%)
May n/a
Jun X-Men Unlimited #3 - 36,737 (-13.8%)
Jul n/a
Aug X-Men Unlimited #4 - 33,895 ( -7.7%)
6 mnth (-36.0%)

Still dropping, although it’s levelling out a little bit.


62. POWERS
Aug Powers #33 - 26,174 ( -2.2%)
Sep n/a
Oct Powers #34 - 26,285 ( +0.4%)
Nov Powers #35 - 26,141 ( -0.5%)
Dec n/a
Jan Powers #36 - 25,433 ( -2.7%)
Feb n/a
Mar Powers #37 - 25,028 ( -1.6%)
Apr n/a
May n/a
Jun n/a
Jul Powers #1 - 40,387 (+61.4%)
Jul Powers #2 - 36,537 ( -9.5%)
Aug Powers #3 - 33,628 ( -8.0%)
6 mnth (+34.4%)
1 year (+28.5%)

POWERS #2 gets 2,176 in re-orders, to chart at number 260. Despite that, the book’s still dropping. But for the moment, it remains comfortably ahead of the numbers it was getting at Image.


63. AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS
Mar Avengers/Thunderbolts #1 (of 6) - 47,255
Apr Avengers/Thunderbolts #2 (of 6) - 44,717 (-5.4%)
Apr Avengers/Thunderbolts #3 (of 6) - 40,579 (-9.3%)
May n/a
Jun Avengers/Thunderbolts #4 (of 6) - 38,293 (-5.6%)
Jun Avengers/Thunderbolts #5 (of 6) - 35,563 (-7.1%)
Jul n/a
Aug Avengers/Thunderbolts #6 (of 6) - 33,512 (-5.8%)

Perfectly normal numbers for this miniseries.


64. IRON MAN
Aug Iron Man #71 - 30,823 ( -4.3%)
Sep Iron Man #72 - 30,438 ( -1.2%)
Oct Iron Man #73 - 34,132 (+12.1%)
Nov Iron Man #74 - 32,016 ( -6.2%)
Dec Iron Man #75 - 31,889 ( -0.4%)
Jan Iron Man #76 - 30,197 ( -5.3%)
Feb Iron Man #77 - 29,748 ( -1.5%)
Mar Iron Man #78 - 29,680 ( -0.2%)
Apr Iron Man #79 - 29,138 ( -1.8%)
Apr Iron Man #80 - 28,809 ( -1.1%)
May Iron Man #81 - 28,232 ( -2.0%)
May Iron Man #82 - 28,002 ( -0.8%)
May Iron Man #83 - 28,055 ( +0.2%)
Jun Iron Man #84 - 29,629 ( +5.6%)
Jun Iron Man #85 - 29,615 ( -0.0%)
Jul Iron Man #86 - 34,520 (+16.6%)
Aug Iron Man #87 - 33,512 ( -2.9%)
6 mnth (+12.7%)
1 year ( +8.7%)

Another book continuing to benefit from Avengers Disassembled. Again, a relaunch is just around the corner.


65. IDENTITY DISC
Jun Identity Disc #1 (of 5) - 44,696
Jul Identity Disc #2 (of 5) - 36,335 (-18.7%)
Aug Identity Disc #3 (of 5) - 33,129 ( -8.8%)

Fairly normal miniseries drop.


70. POWERLESS
Jun Powerless #1 (of 6) - 39,798
Jul Powerless #2 (of 6) - 34,803 (-12.6%)
Aug Powerless #3 (of 6) - 31,915 ( -8.3%)

Ditto.


73. CABLE/DEADPOOL
Mar Cable/Deadpool #1 - 47,130
Apr Cable/Deadpool #2 - 39,472 (-16.2%)
May Cable/Deadpool #3 - 36,820 ( -6.7%)
Jun Cable/Deadpool #4 - 34,966 ( -5.0%)
Jul Cable/Deadpool #5 - 32,594 ( -6.8%)
Aug Cable/Deadpool #6 - 31,033 ( -4.8%)

Still dropping, and a little too fast for comfort. There’s not all that much leeway below here before you hit the cancellation zone.


75. DISTRICT X
May District X #1 - 45,439
Jun District X #2 - 35,844 (-21.1%)
Jul District X #3 - 33,257 ( -7.2%)
Aug District X #4 - 30,816 ( -7.3%)

Good book, great reviews, X-connection... but the sales aren’t holding up, and we have another title sliding towards the danger zone. It’s safe through to issue #12 (since the solicitations show a 6-parter starting in issue #7), but these numbers are not promising.


76. CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE FALCON
Mar Captain America & The Falcon #1 - 41,519
Apr Captain America & The Falcon #2 - 36,763 (-11.5%)
May Captain America & The Falcon #3 - 33,975 ( -7.6%)
Jun Captain America & The Falcon #4 - 30,688 ( -9.7%)
Jul Captain America & The Falcon #5 - 31,020 ( +1.1%)
Aug Captain America & The Falcon #6 - 30,252 ( -2.5%)

Hovering around the 30-31K range, as Avengers Disassembled at least seems to have arrested the fall. The numbers are still a bit low for comfort.


LOKI
Jul Loki #1 (of 4) - 34,195
Jul Loki #2 (of 4) - 30,986 (-9.4%)
Aug Loki #3 (of 4) - 29,587 (-4.5%)

Not bad. This has a $3.50 price point, and the drops are relatively small.


81. EMMA FROST
Aug Emma Frost #2 - 46,507 (-14.4%)
Sep Emma Frost #3 - 43,389 ( -6.7%)
Oct Emma Frost #4 - 41,710 ( -3.9%)
Nov Emma Frost #5 - 39,527 ( -5.2%)
Dec Emma Frost #6 - 37,890 ( -4.1%)
Jan Emma Frost #7 - 35,807 ( -5.5%)
Feb Emma Frost #8 - 34,894 ( -2.5%)
Mar Emma Frost #9 - 33,890 ( -2.9%)
Apr Emma Frost #10 - 32,625 ( -3.7%)
May Emma Frost #11 - 31,269 ( -4.2%)
Jun Emma Frost #12 - 30,392 ( -2.8%)
Jul Emma Frost #13 - 29,446 ( -3.1%)
Aug Emma Frost #14 - 28,214 ( -4.2%)
6 mnth (-19.1%)
1 year (-39.3%)

Still dropping. The most recent solicitations run through to issue #18, which is the end of the current storyline. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see it quietly disappear after that, but on the other hand, it’s now a Marvel Age book - and by their standards, it sells very well. That could buy it more leeway.


89. MYSTIQUE
Aug Mystique #5 - 38,827 ( -1.7%)
Sep Mystique #6 - 38,620 ( -0.5%)
Oct Mystique #7 - 39,697 ( +2.8%)
Nov Mystique #8 - 37,097 ( -6.5%)
Dec n/a
Jan Mystique #9 - 34,579 ( -6.8%)
Jan Mystique #10 - 32,361 ( -6.4%)
Feb Mystique #11 - 31,354 ( -3.1%)
Mar Mystique #12 - 30,489 ( -2.8%)
Apr Mystique #13 - 29,759 ( -2.4%)
May Mystique #14 - 29,439 ( -1.1%)
May Mystique #15 - 28,940 ( -1.7%)
Jun Mystique #16 - 28,189 ( -2.6%)
Jul Mystique #17 - 26,706 ( -5.3%)
Aug Mystique #18 - 25,944 ( -2.9%)
6 mnth (-17.3%)
1 year (-33.2%)

Still dropping, and only marginally ahead of a cancelled book. The solicitations have the next storyline running through to issue #24, so it’s safe through to then. But this is clearly an endangered title.


90. WEAPON X
Aug n/a
Sep Weapon X #12 - 26,908 ( -2.5%)
Oct Weapon X #13 - 26,974 ( +0.2%)
Oct Weapon X #14 - 27,663 ( +2.6%)
Nov Weapon X #15 - 27,516 ( -5.3%)
Dec n/a
Jan Weapon X #16 - 27,009 ( -1.8%)
Jan Weapon X #17 - 26,439 ( -2.1%)
Feb Weapon X #18 - 26,284 ( -0.6%)
Mar Weapon X #19 - 25,795 ( -1.9%)
Mar Weapon X #20 - 24,970 ( -3.2%)
Apr Weapon X #21 - 25,527 ( +2.2%)
Apr Weapon X #22 - 25,283 ( -1.0%)
May Weapon X #23 - 27,948 (+10.5%)
May Weapon X #24 - 27,286 ( -2.4%)
Jun Weapon X #25 - 26,475 ( -3.0%)
Jul Weapon X #26 - 25,823 ( -2.5%)
Aug Weapon X #27 - 25,604 ( -0.8%)
6 mnth ( -2.6%)
1 year ( -4.8%)

Axed with issue #28. Anything below here is obviously in danger (unless it’s a Marvel Age book, of course).


94. ALPHA FLIGHT
Mar Alpha Flight #1 - 42,586
Apr Alpha Flight #2 - 36,551 (-14.2%)
May Alpha Flight #3 - 32,684 (-10.6%)
Jun Alpha Flight #4 - 29,384 (-10.1%)
Jul Alpha Flight #5 - 26,879 ( -8.5%)
Aug Alpha Flight #6 - 25,004 ( -7.0%)

Dropping far too fast for comfort, and below the cancellation point. It’s safe through to issue #12, but I wouldn’t bet on it lasting much further.


95. SHE-HULK
Mar She-Hulk #1 - 34,499
Apr She-Hulk #2 - 30,779 (-10.8%)
May She-Hulk #3 - 29,662 ( -3.6%)
Jun She-Hulk #4 - 27,648 ( -6.8%)
Jul She-Hulk #5 - 25,788 ( -6.7%)
Aug She-Hulk #6 - 24,751 ( -4.0%)

Ditto. It’s levelling out slightly, but the positive response to the book simply isn’t translating into increased sales, and these numbers are unlikely to be acceptable to Marvel.


101. X-STATIX
Aug X-Statix #12 - 28,660 ( -3.2%)
Sep n/a
Oct X-Statix #13 - 32,184 (+12.3%)
Oct X-Statix #14 - 31,420 ( -2.4%)
Nov X-Statix #15 - 30,042 ( -4.4%)
Nov X-Statix #16 - 28,251 ( -6.0%)
Dec X-Statix #17 - 27,000 ( -4.4%)
Jan X-Statix #18 - 25,246 ( -6.5%)
Feb X-Statix #19 - 24,182 ( -4.2%)
Mar X-Statix #20 - 23,677 ( -2.1%)
Apr X-Statix #21 - 25,911 ( +9.4%)
Apr X-Statix #22 - 24,933 ( -3.8%)
May X-Statix #23 - 24,080 ( -3.4%)
Jun X-Statix #24 - 24,062 ( -0.0%)
Jul X-Statix #25 - 23,448 ( -2.6%)
Aug X-Statix #26 - 22,770 ( -2.9%)
6 mnth ( -5.8%)
1 year (-20.6%)

Axed with this issue.


102. OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
May X-Men 2004 - 39,380
Jun Spider-Man 2004 - 32,013 (-18.7%)
Jul Avengers 2004 - 28,791 (-10.1%)
Aug Hulk 2004 - 22,011 (-23.5%)

Haemorrhaging. It’ll be interesting to see how the upcoming Wolverine 2004 issue does, since you might expect that to deliver a boost. On the other hand, the most recent solicitations promise a Golden Age issue, which sounds like suicide.


103. SPIDER-GIRL
Aug Spider-Girl #63 - 22,584 ( -2.3%)
Sep Spider-Girl #64 - 22,442 ( -0.6%)
Oct Spider-Girl #65 - 22,561 ( +0.5%)
Nov Spider-Girl #66 - 21,864 ( +0.3%)
Dec Spider-Girl #67 - 21,403 ( -2.1%)
Jan Spider-Girl #68 - 20,544 ( -4.0%)
Jan Spider-Girl #69 - 20,384 ( -0.8%)
Feb Spider-Girl #70 - 20,541 ( +0.8%)
Mar Spider-Girl #71 - 20,709 ( +0.8%)
Apr Spider-Girl #72 - 20,533 ( -0.8%)
May Spider-Girl #73 - 20,275 ( -1.3%)
May Spider-Girl #74 - 19,959 ( -1.6%)
Jun Spider-Girl #75 - 24,674 (+23.6%)
Jul Spider-Girl #76 - 22,157 (-10.2%)
Aug Spider-Girl #77 - 21,758 ( -1.8%)
6 mnth ( +5.9%)
1 year ( -3.7%)

A Marvel Age book, so it has more leeway than some.


108. SILVER SURFER
Aug n/a
Sep n/a
Oct Silver Surfer #2 - 47,275 (-21.6%)
Nov Silver Surfer #3 - 39,081 (-17.3%)
Dec Silver Surfer #4 - 36,282 ( -7.2%)
Jan Silver Surfer #5 - 31,052 (-14.4%)
Feb Silver Surfer #6 - 28,352 ( -8.7%)
Mar Silver Surfer #7 - 26,962 ( -4.9%)
Apr Silver Surfer #8 - 25,542 ( -5.3%)
May Silver Surfer #9 - 24,142 ( -5.5%)
Jun Silver Surfer #10 - 23,133 ( -4.2%)
Jul Silver Surfer #11 - 22,026 ( -4.8%)
Aug Silver Surfer #12 - 20,775 ( -5.7%)
6 mnth (-26.7%)
1 year ( n/a )

Axed with issue #14.


115. MAN-THING
Jul Man-Thing #1 (of 3) - 25,685
Aug Man-Thing #2 (of 3) - 19,192 (-25.3%)

That’s a very nasty drop, but this is designed to provide material for a film tie-in, so Marvel probably won’t be too bothered.


116. THOR: SON OF ASGARD
Mar Thor: Son of Asgard #1 - 29,588
Mar Thor: Son of Asgard #2 - 26,962 (-8.9%)
Apr Thor: Son of Asgard #3 - 25,110 (-6.9%)
May Thor: Son of Asgard #4 - 22,696 (-9.6%)
Jun Thor: Son of Asgard #5 - 20,850 (-8.1%)
Jul Thor: Son of Asgard #6 - 19,445 (-6.7%)
Aug Thor: Son of Asgard #7 - 18,990 (-2.3%)

Now officially a Marvel Age title, which allows it to survive at this level.


119. RUNAWAYS
Aug Runaways #5 - 19,332 ( -4.5%)
Sep Runaways #6 - 20,035 ( +3.6%)
Oct Runaways #7 - 21,721 ( +8.4%)
Nov Runaways #8 - 20,896 ( -3.8%)
Dec Runaways #9 - 20,429 ( -2.2%)
Jan Runaways #10 - 20,108 ( -1.6%)
Feb Runaways #11 - 19,978 ( -0.6%)
Feb Runaways #12 - 19,608 ( -1.9%)
Mar Runaways #13 - 19,459 ( -0.8%)
Apr Runaways #14 - 19,363 ( -0.5%)
May Runaways #15 - 19,306 ( -0.3%)
Jun Runaways #16 - 19,049 ( -1.3%)
Jul n/a
Aug Runaways #17 - 18,563 ( -2.6%)
6 mnth ( -5.3%)
1 year ( -4.0%)

Axed with issue #18, albeit with a relaunch on the horizon.


120. STARJAMMERS
Jul Starjammers #1 (of 6) - 27,017
Jul Starjammers #2 (of 6) - 23,704 (-12.3%)
Aug Starjammers #3 (of 6) - 18,433 (-22.2%)

Marvel have retroactively decided that this is a six-issue miniseries, which is really just another way of saying that it’s axed with issue #6. Obviously, the book is bleeding readers, and by the time issue #6 comes around, these numbers are likely to be nasty.


121,140. GUARDIANS
Jul Guardians #1 (of 5) - 20,528
Aug Guardians #2 (of 5) - 18,346 (-10.6%)
Aug Guardians #3 (of 5) - 14,168 (-22.8%)

And this is even worse. Again, this was retroactively declared to be a five-issue miniseries, and at this rate there’s a real prospect that this could drop below the 10,000 mark before it ends. A shame, because it’s really not that bad.


123. IRON FIST
Mar Iron Fist #1 - 34,207
Apr Iron Fist #2 - 28,432 (-16.9%)
May Iron Fist #3 - 24,972 (-12.2%)
Jun Iron Fist #4 - 21,714 (-13.0%)
Jul Iron Fist #5 - 19,776 ( -8.9%)
Aug Iron Fist #6 - 17,985 ( -9.1%)

Axed with this issue.


124. MARY JANE
Jun Mary Jane #1 - 29,471
Jul Mary Jane #2 - 21,619 (-26.6%)
Aug Mary Jane #3 - 17,725 (-18.0%)

Axed with issue #4, which makes it the first Marvel Age book to be cancelled. Strangely, it’s not the lowest-selling Marvel Age title, so one can only wonder what criteria Marvel are working from here.


131,132. MARVEL AGE SPIDER-MAN
Mar Marvel Age Spider-Man #1 - 36,700
Apr Marvel Age Spider-Man #2 - 30,363 (-16.5%)
May Marvel Age Spider-Man #3 - 24,180 (-20.4%)
May Marvel Age Spider-Man #4 - 23,442 ( -3.1%)
Jun Marvel Age Spider-Man #5 - 21,556 ( -8.0%)
Jun Marvel Age Spider-Man #6 - 21,116 ( -2.0%)
Jul Marvel Age Spider-Man #7 - 17,650 (-16.4%)
Jul Marvel Age Spider-Man #8 - 17,243 ( -2.3%)
Aug Marvel Age Spider-Man #9 - 16,077 ( -6.7%)
Aug Marvel Age Spider-Man #10 - 16,134 ( +0.4%)

Yes, you read that right - sales on issue #10 went UP. Somebody, somewhere, has increased their orders on MARVEL AGE SPIDER-MAN. But with numbers like this, I wouldn’t break out the champagne just yet. Still, for what it’s worth, the book seems to be levelling out - albeit almost 10,000 below the normal Marvel cancellation point.


151. MARVEL AGE FANTASTIC FOUR
Apr Marvel Age Fantastic Four #1 - 29,641
May Marvel Age Fantastic Four #2 - 21,074 (-28.9%)
Jun Marvel Age Fantastic Four #3 - 16,694 (-20.8%)
Jul Marvel Age Fantastic Four #4 - 13,039 (-21.9%)
Aug Marvel Age Fantastic Four #5 - 12,050 ( -7.6%)

This, on the other hand, is collapsing. Will Marvel really carry a Marvel Age title when orders drop below 10,000? Stay tuned, because at this rate it’s only going to be two or three months before we find out the answer.


Skip months
===========

AVENGERS
Aug Avengers #69 - 57,850 ( +0.5%)
Sep n/a
Oct Avengers #70 - 58,878 ( +1.8%)
Oct Avengers #71 - 57,350 ( -2.6%)
Oct Avengers #72 - 58,437 ( +1.9%)
Nov Avengers #73 - 58,177 ( -0.4%)
Nov Avengers #74 - 57,557 ( -1.1%)
Dec Avengers #75 - 57,841 ( +0.5%)
Dec Avengers #76 - 57,501 ( -0.6%)
Jan Avengers #77 - ??,??? ( ??? )
Feb Avengers #78 - 58,798 ( +2.3%)
Feb Avengers #79 - 55,014 ( -6.4%)
Mar Avengers #80 - 55,533 ( +0.9%)
Apr Avengers #81 - 54,987 ( -1.0%)
May Avengers #82 - 55,711 ( +1.3%)
May Avengers #83 - 55,280 ( -0.8%)
Jun Avengers #84 - 57,083 ( +3.3%)
Jul Avengers #500 - 140,033 (+145.3%)
Aug n/a

Issue #501 was late and didn’t ship until September. However, the Director’s Cut edition of issue #500 did ship during August, and charted at number 59, adding a further 34,416 to the sales on issue #500. That raises the total orders to 140,033. That still wouldn’t make it last month’s best selling title, though - SUPERMAN/BATMAN #11 had orders of 143,712, and if you factor in this month’s reorders, SUPERMAN #207 also fractionally beats it out. Very close, though, and still an impressive number.

SECRET WAR
Feb Secret War #1 (of 5) - 135,993
Mar n/a
Apr n/a
May Secret War #2 (of 5) - 116,611 (-14.3%)
Jun n/a
Jul n/a
Aug n/a

Quarterly and late.


WOLVERINE: THE END
Nov Wolverine: The End #1 (of 6) - 116,209
Dec n/a
Jan Wolverine: The End #2 (of 6) - 100,111 (-13.9%)
Feb n/a
Mar n/a
Apr Wolverine: The End #3 (of 6) - 93,131 ( -7.0%)
May n/a
Jun Wolverine: The End #4 (of 6) - 83,947 ( -9.9%)
Jul n/a
Aug n/a

Issue #5 finally shipped in September.


DAREDEVIL: FATHER
Apr Daredevil: Father #1 (of 5) - 69,487
May n/a
Jun n/a
Jul n/a
Aug n/a

It’s the new NYX! You honestly have to wonder how professional publishers allow this sort of fiasco to happen.


PULSE / ALIAS
Aug Alias #25 - 27,674 ( -1.5%)
Sep Alias #26 - 27,609 ( -0.2%)
Oct Alias #27 - 27,628 ( +0.1%)
Nov Alias #28 - 28,125 ( +1.8%)
Dec n/a
Jan n/a
Feb Pulse #1 - 51,130 (+81.8%)
Mar Pulse #2 - 45,479 (-11.1%)
Apr n/a
May Pulse #3 - 43,655 ( -4.0%)
Jun n/a
Jul Pulse #4 - 39,883 ( -8.6%)
Aug n/a

Bimonthly.


NYX
Oct NYX #1 - 54,755
Nov NYX #2 - 44,404 (-18.9%)
Dec NYX #3 - 40,050 ( -9.8%)
Jan n/a
Feb n/a
Mar n/a
Apr n/a
May NYX #4 - 37,028 ( -7.5%)
Jun n/a
Jul n/a
Aug n/a

Late. Boy, is it late.


SPIDER-MAN/DR OCTOPUS: YEAR ONE
Jun Spider-Man/Dr Octopus: Year One #1 (of 5) - 30,133
Jun Spider-Man/Dr Octopus: Year One #2 (of 5) - 27,137 (-9.9%)
Jul n/a
Aug n/a

Late. Issue #3 shipped in September.


SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED
Jan Spider-Man Unlimited #1 - 53,413
Feb n/a
Mar Spider-Man Unlimited #2 - 37,550 (-29.7%)
Apr n/a
May Spider-Man Unlimited #3 - 31,661 (-15.7%)
Jun n/a
Jul Spider-Man Unlimited #4 - 26,506 (-16.3%)
Aug n/a

Bimonthly.


KABUKI
Jul Kabuki #1 - 25,305
Aug n/a

Not solicited for August.


VENOM
Aug n/a
Sep Venom #4 - 46,895 (-11.6%)
Oct Venom #5 - 42,549 ( -9.3%)
Oct Venom #6 - 42,065 ( -1.1%)
Oct Venom #7 - 40,580 ( -3.5%)
Nov Venom #8 - 36,400 (-10.3%)
Dec Venom #9 - 33,543 ( -7.8%)
Jan Venom #10 - 31,586 ( -5.8%)
Feb Venom #11 - 29,891 ( -5.4%)
Mar Venom #12 - 28,246 ( -5.5%)
Apr Venom #13 - 27,537 ( -2.5%)
May Venom #14 - 27,571 ( +0.1%)
May Venom #15 - 26,917 ( -2.4%)
Jun Venom #16 - 26,302 ( -2.3%)
Jul Venom #17 - 24,863 ( -5.5%)
Aug n/a

Running late.


6 month changes
===============

+44.0% - New X-Men / New Mutants
+34.4% - Powers
+19.6% - Thor
+12.7% - Iron Man
+11.8% - Uncanny X-Men
+ 6.0% - Ultimate X-Men
+ 5.9% - Spider-Girl
+ 4.8% - Amazing Spider-Man
+ 2.3% - Ultimate Spider-Man
+ 2.3% - Fantastic Four
- 0.3% - Exiles
- 2.2% - Punisher
- 2.6% - Weapon X
- 3.1% - Captain America
- 4.7% - Daredevil
- 5.3% - Runaways
- 5.5% - Supreme Power
- 5.8% - X-Statix
- 6.2% - Spectacular Spider-Man
- 6.3% - Wolverine
-11.2% - Incredible Hulk
-17.3% - Mystique
-17.4% - Ultimate Fantastic Four
-19.1% - Emma Frost
-21.2% - X-Men
-26.7% - Silver Surfer
-35.3% - Marvel Knights 4
-36.0% - X-Men Unlimited


1 year changes
==============

+28.5% - Powers
+25.2% - New Mutants / New X-Men
+21.5% - Punisher
+13.1% - Thor
+ 8.7% - Iron Man
+ 2.1% - Uncanny X-Men
- 3.7% - Spider-Girl
- 4.0% - Runaways
- 4.5% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 4.8% - Weapon X
- 6.6% - Ultimate X-Men
- 7.1% - Fantastic Four
- 7.6% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 8.0% - X-Men
-10.5% - Exiles
-10.8% - Captain America
-20.3% - Daredevil
-20.6% - X-Statix
-24.2% - Wolverine
-28.7% - Incredible Hulk
-33.1% - Spectacular Spider-Man
-33.2% - Mystique
-35.7% - Supreme Power
-39.3% - Emma Frost