A good, but not great, month for DC. Even with the massive success of Justice League of America, DC’s market share dropped 3% (35.41% to 32.89%). The drop can be misleading for the time being, however, as most of the Marvel titles have yet to stabilize from the recent MarvelNOW! initiative. DC Comics had four comics in the top 10, the number 1 overall comic (Justice League of America), and also the highest selling non-number 1 comic (Batman) for the month.
(all +/- are based off of the previous month/issue’s number)
Because ‘Merica.
Justice League of America #1
February 2013: 307,734
JLA was a title that was expected to do well, but I’m not quite sure many people predicted it to do over 300k well. The variant 53 covers definitely did their part in helping boost the numbers. Many shops bought ‘at least’ one of the all 53 in a pack offer hoping for one super fan. Not sure how many of the super packs have sold, but those numbers are still put into the February figures to help DC. It will also be interesting in six months when they announce which state had the lowest variants sold, accidentally creating a collector’s item for whichever state cover. My guess is Idaho!
An impressive stat to compare Justice League of America’s release to is the flagship title Justice League #1, the first title released for the New 52. JL sold 171,344 in August 2011, compared to JLA‘s 307,734.
Did the spoiler work?
Batman Incorporated #8
February 2013: 55,414 (+10%)
January 2013: 50,345
DC wanted this book to sell and did almost everything in their power to get it to. A few months before release, they sent out a message to all comic shops to make sure to up their order of Batman Incorporated #8, because it was going to be a hot item.
Then DC did the unthinkable and gave the spoiler to anyone who would take it a few days before release. At least Marvel had the decency to mask the Amazing Spider Man #700 spoiler with the line that ‘it was leaked from within.’ Even though the internet and mainstream media blew up about the news, the bump was only marginal and was even beaten out by Batman: The Dark Knight in the monthly sales. The only ones who truly benefited from the media frenzy were the comic shops, where some shops were reported as upcharging the comic to $15 or $20 on the day of its release.
It’s official. Lemire can carry a title.
Green Arrow #17
February 2013: 36,043 (+80%)
January 2013: 19,988 (-26%)
February 2012: 27,087
Green Arrow has probably made the worst transition from pre-Flashpoint to New 52. Anything that could have went wrong in the creative decision making for the character, did. Then the TV show Arrow happened, and DC took notice of the comic again. Instead of the carousel of creators on the comic, the publisher decided to put two rising stars on the title, and so far, it has been a success with sales and reviews both.
Hellblazer out with a whimper.
Hellblazer #300
February 2013: 12,522 (+34%)
January 2013: 9,329 (-2%)
February 2012: 9,553
One of the longest running DC/Vertigo titles finally comes to a close — a series that had some of the best writers in the industry on it at one point or another (Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis, Brian Azzarello, and Neil Gaiman to name a few). More news was spread about the re-branding of John Constantine than the closing of one of DC’s more treasured chapters. While it’s always better focus on birth and the future, a little bit to promote the issue 300 would have went a long way. Instead, it came to the shops to little fanfare and a $4.99 price tag.
Special thanks to Comichron for having more stats than any comic fan can imagine!
