DC copped 40% issues sold, Marvel got 38%. Of course, DC is down a lot. 22% to be exact. But that’s totally to be expected, with the media push and 52 #1s in one month. I’d expect a little more downturn in the coming months. They’re still up from their pre-New 52 market share, but my prediction is that in a few months they’ll be back where they were before the whole relaunch. Does that mean it wasn’t worth it? Of course not. Those few months of big sales were BIG sales for DC—and the amount of hype and publicity they got can only be good for those of us who love comics. It’s probably due solely to the New 52 that overall comic sales are up 7% for the year—the first rise in yearly figures in two years.
The top 10 titles were still mostly DC: Justice League #3 led the pack, followed by #3s of Batman, Action, and Green Lantern. Interestingly, Marvel’s “Point One” book came in at #5—it had a $6 price tag and generally got bad reviews. (All filler! No meat!) I’m sure that helped Marvel’s dollar sales figs significantly. Also interesting: #6 in November 2011’s top 10 was the new Avenging Spider-Man title. I’m hoping that book is a hit, as I was always a big fan of Marvel Team-Up.
Rounding out the bottom four of the top 10, beginning at #7, were Uncanny X-Men #1, Detective #3, Flash #3 and, finally, Wolverine and the X-Men #2.
A bigger shock to me was what the New 52 continues to do for DC’s OGN/Trade Paperback sales. I thought the reboot essentially killed off their back issue market, since the New 52 meant the old stories no longer mattered. But DC had half of the top 10 paperbacks sold last month—in a pre-Christmas month that found graphic novel sales up 30% from October. A good month for trades! I’m also very, very glad to see Joe the Barbarian in the top 10. I know I had something to do with that—I bought two copies.
Here’s your top 10 trades. Note the complete absence of anything Marvel—despite their release of the amazing John Byrne Fantastic Four Omnibus.
10. Joe the Barbarian (DC/Vertigo)
9. BPRD: Being Human (Dark Horse)
8. Sailor Moon Vol. 2
7. Green Lantern: War of the Green Lanterns (DC)
6. Scalped Vol. 8 (DC/Vertigo)
5. Batman and Robin Vol. 2 (DC)
4. The Walking Dead Vol. 1 (reissue) (Image)
3. The Boys Vol. 9 (Dynamite)
2. Hellboy: House of the Living Dead (Dark Horse)
1. Batman: Noel Deluxe Edition (DC)
Daredevil vs. Mole Man by Paolo Rivera. You can get me this original art for my birthday or Christmas or just 'cause you love me.
Tags: Comic books, Daredevil, Grant Morrison Sucks, Justice League, The Caped Crusader
There was some real good indie rock this year. But, surprisingly, there was a ton of good hip hop as well. Usually there’s a few rap records on my list, and the rest are rock. But 2011 was a good year for rap. Truly. Every year, folks complain about how there’s not good hip hop anymore, and usually they’re right. But this year is an exception.
Before we get to the usual comic-related nonsense, I wanna say that the new film “The Muppets” is…As good as the original. Better, even. Truly. It was smart, hilarious, sentimental…Everything you would have expected if Jim Henson rose from the grave and brought the characters back. See it!
