The Top 300 Selling Comics for May 2006

Thanks for checking out this column which is a look at sales of Comics where I comment on their sales, if they are any good or whatever other snarky remarks come to mind as I look over the sales figures.

So, what is this list? Every month, Diamond Comics (the company that ships comic books to comic book shops) list the sales figures of the previous month so that they can list actual sales through the entire month, but they list it in the form of “average number of copies sold to each comic shop”. Then, the site www.ICV2.com goes through the numbers they post and attempts to turn it into an approximation of the actual number of books sold.

1 CIVIL WAR #1 (Of 7)* $3.99 MAR 260,804
2 INFINITE CRISIS #7 (Of 7) $3.99 DC 198,442

Wow. Both Marvel and DC had their big crossover comics come out the SAME WEEK, and they both logged huge sales. It shows both companies that the big crossover series is back, and I'm betting that both companies have big crossover events for next summer, since it's hard to walk away from sales this high. As for the books themselves:

Civil War #1 was a great start, staying away from being crowd scenes, and focusing on a single idea and seeing how the characters react to it. It's probably the best written Big Crossover that I've read so far, and it if keeps up, it could be one of Marvel's best super-hero stories.

Infinite Crisis, however, seemed to fall apart with the last issue. I have liked it as a tribute to Crisis on Infinite Earth up until this issue, where the plot just seemed to completely break down. It's too bad, since the story had been good until this issue, and overall, it's better than most of the big crossovers, but as an individual story, it just stumbled as it got to the finish line.

3 ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN #4* $2.99 DC 160,401

Late. Months late. Lots of months late (which is why it got an asterisk), and the book has been late since day one. There is a HUGE backlash against this comic, which message boards filled with fans saying that they won't buy the book any more, but it's still the #3 selling comic of the month. The story is still coming together, and despite the fact that I don't care for Jim Lee's artwork normally, it's SO over-the-top it fits Frank Miller's story, which reads like a hard-boiled novel turned up to 11. There are a lot of flaws, and a lot of silly scenes, but as I read each issue, I laugh out loud. I don't know if that's the reaction they want, but this reads like Batman as written by Mickey Spillane, and if that appeals to you, you'll like this.

4 52 WEEK #1** $2.50 DC 140,971

I'm only going to review 52 once per month, even though I read all four issues. The idea of the series is interesting: A comic that purports to tell a story in real time to explain what happened during the year that the other DC books skipped over. How is it? It depends on how much of a comics fan you are. If you are a fan of the DC universe or got interested in it because of Infinite Crisis, this series is for you. It jumps around from character to character, has a lot of things that tie in to older DC comics as well as reinventing some heroes, and while it doesn't read like a typical super-hero comic, it is more of a soap opera in how it is constructed than a linear story. If you aren't a fan of DC comics and aren't all that interested, this is a series that brings nothing to the table for a casual reader. Single issues are not new reader friendly, and they rarely have anything that could be considered a resolution. For fans only

5 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #2* $2.99 MAR 131,522

This Wolverine series was one I wasn't interested in until I heard an interview with the writer. Now that the book has gone for a couple of issues, I'm glad I gave it a try. Rather than just another super-hero book with Wolverine as the hero, this delves into an interesting idea: Wolverine used to do some pretty horrible things before he had his memory erased, and now that his memory is back, the consequences are back as well. A dirt, nasty little story with great art by Steve Dillan (who is best known for his work on Preacher). I never thought I'd say this, but this series is highly recommended.

6 52 WEEK #2** $2.50 DC 128,393
7 52 WEEK #3** $2.50 DC 123,982
8 NEW AVENGERS #19 $2.99 MAR 123,318

Following up on last year's “House of M”, this deals with the fact that energy cannot be destroyed by creating a new villain. I always like The Avengers best when the heroes are dealing with a menace so big that it feels like no single hero could deal with it. This story feels like a big budget summer movie, and is highly recommended for super-hero fans.

9 52 WEEK #4** $2.50 DC 121,440
10 SUPERMAN BATMAN #26 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99 DC 118,821

A single issue written by the son of outgoing writer Jeph Loeb. His son passed away from cancer, and this issue is drawn by a large number of artists, all of whom are donating their money to a scholarship fund. It's a great story, and because of how it was written, it's touching and affecting. Hard to review, but I believe this to be a must read.

11 SUPERMAN BATMAN #25 $2.99 DC 103,702

This, however, is easy to review. A gawd-awful mess that attempts to wrap up all of the story threads of the last 25 issues. This book has been pretty much unreadable since around issue 19, and this issue did nothing to change that. Avoid.

12 SUPERGIRL #6* $2.99 DC 102,860

I feel dirty after I read each issue of this comic, partly because it's simply a fetish comic. Supergirl is drawn as the most sexualized 16 year old in history, and out of the two stories DC has done featuring this new version of the character, they'd both been about her turning evil. It almost seems that the writer is working out personal issues with this story, rather than trying to tell a good story. Avoid.

13 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #30* $2.99 MAR 102,582

This issue is selling a lot better than the previous ones, mostly because the book revisits the “Marvel Zombies” universe. And I buy it as trade paperbacks.

14 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #532 $2.99 MAR 95,544

After almost two years of not liking this book, it has turned around and gotten much better because it's focusing on Peter Parker as a character and having him examine his ideals rather than shocking plot twists that are horrible out of character. The writing is interesting and makes me feel like I'm reading an official Spider-Man comic, rather than angry fan fiction. It's not great, but it's back to being good.

15 WOLVERINE #42 $2.99 MAR 93,558

A solid tie-in to Civil War, bringing Wolverine into the Marvel Universe, rather than keeping him in his own little ghetto. A nice, action oriented tie-in comic, and is well worth reading for anyone who is reading Civil War.

16 X-MEN #186 $2.99 MAR 79,536
17 UNCANNY X-MEN #473 $2.99 MAR 79,335

Both of the X-Men books are finishing up long runs by creative teams that are leaving. Both of them did a good job of wrapping up long-running plot threads, and “clearing the decks”. Not good issues for new readers, but a nice way of setting up for the new directions the books will be taking.

18 GREEN LANTERN #11 $2.99 DC 78,926

Green Lantern is almost a typical Geoff Johns book: It uses the history of the character, but not so much it feels like you need to have read the last 30 years, and it amps up the threat level so that it feels like the story is Important to the character. A comic that super-hero fans will love, but has little appeal outside of that group and is highly recommended.

19 X-MEN DEADLY GENESIS #6 (Of 6) $3.50 MAR 77,419

This mini-series has been a set up for Ed Brubaker taking over the main X-Men book, and as such, he's gone back to the first New X-Men story of the 70's, added a few things, and is using that to start his story and give the series a new villain. It's been a solidly entertaining mini-series, but I don't know why they had to go with a card stock cover and a higher cover price. When the collected trade comes out, it's a solid buy for X-Men fans.

20 BATMAN #653 $2.99 DC 77,257

The Batman book has benefited most from the “One Year Later”, as the story that started with that has been the best run on the main Batman books in years. Almost a “back to basics” approach, this is the kind of story that you expect when you pick up a Batman book. Highly recommended.

21 MOON KNIGHT #2 $2.99 MAR 75,333

The first issue was a HUGE sales success, and while the second issue dropped a lot, I found the story to be just as good, and confirmed that I was right to add it to my pull list. Moon Knight is more than just a Batman rip-off, and the creative team knows to touch of the differences and complexities of the character. Solidly entertaining, and with enough mystery that I can't wait for the next issue. Add to that some great art by David Finch, and this book is highly recommended.

22 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #94 $2.99 MAR 74,051
23 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #95 $2.99 MAR 73,564

This series is one of my favorites, and even when the stories aren't great, they are still good. These issues, wrapping up an X-Men crossover, were pure action, but had some excellent dialog was was well worth reading. Highly recommended.

24 TEEN TITANS #35 $2.50 DC 72,954

When Geoff Johns is on his game, he writes really good super-hero comics. When he isn't, you get a book like this, a perfectly average super-hero comic that leaves next to no impression when you close the book and move on to reading something else. I want to like this book, since I have always been a fan of the concept, but the comic is so average that I can't recommend it.

25 ULTIMATE X-MEN #70 $2.99 MAR 72,235
26 ULTIMATE EXTINCTION #5 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 71,756
27 TEEN TITANS #36 $2.99 DC 71,486
28 SUPERMAN #652 $2.99 DC 70,458

Much like Batman, this book has had all of the stuff from the last 10 or so years brushed away, and is telling an 8 part story about Superman slowly getting his powers back. It's been a great Superman story, and if they can keep up the same solid storytelling, the two Superman books will be well worth reading. Highly recommended.

29 DETECTIVE COMICS #819 $2.99 DC 65,800
30 ACTION COMICS #838 $2.50 DC 62,702
31 ACTION COMICS #839 $2.99 DC 61,898

Someday, someone will explain to me why when two series are crossing over, telling the same story and having the same creative teams, one series will sell less than the other. Read my reviews for Batman and Superman, because these two series are part of the same story.

32 CRISIS AFTERMATH SPECTRE #1 (Of 3) $2.99 DC 55,772

Normally, I wait on trades for mini-series, but this is one I picked up as a comic because I didn't want to buy a trade that only had three issues worth of comics in it. This is an excellent follow-up to both Infinite Crisis as well as Gotham Knights, tying up one of the loose ends from that series. Even though it is a completely different kind of story, it's a great story on its own, and has been a good set-up to a new Spectre series. Highly recommended.

33 ION #2 (Of 12) $2.99 DC 55,532
34 SECRET SIX #1 (Of 6) $2.99 DC 54,961

The one mini-series leading in to Infinite Crisis that I LOVED was Villains United, because it took a large number of minor super-villains that no one at DC had done anything with in years, and made them interesting. This follow-up isn't quite as good as that story, but it's still a solidly entertaining story. Highly recommended for people who read Villains United, but for people who haven't, read this first, as this is a sequel that relies on the reader's knowledge of that.

35 FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #8 $2.99 MAR 53,910

There are times writer Peter David can get too tied to continuity that he's played with in this past for his own good, and sadly, this is one of those times. Using characters from a story he wrote a little over a decade ago, he does a good job re-introducing the villain and supporting characters, he does it at the expense of Spider-Man, who feels like a guest star in his own book. Hopefully, this story is an aberration, because his previous story in this book was quite good. Pass.

36 JSA #85 $2.99 DC 52,620

DC Head Honcho Paul Levitz broke in to comics as a writer, and hasn't written a story in comics for years. He is bringing down the curtain on the current JSA series, and while the story reads like an older comic, it's still well done, and shows his skill with writing books with a lot of characters in it. This entire series has been great, but this story is highly recommended as well.

37 SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #26 $2.99 MAR 52,496

This started as a Marvel Knights version of Spider-Man, and has now morphed into just another Spider-Man book. I dislike the art, and the story reads like something I've read a few thousand times before, using a villain that hasn't been used since the 70's...and there is a reason for that. Avoid.

38 SHADOWPACT #1 $2.99 DC 50,279

For a first issue, writer/artist Bill Willingham does a great job of introducing the characters, and setting up an interesting situation for them to deal with. Using a handful of DC's forgotten mystic characters, he has a solid team book that was one of the better reads of the month. I also like Willingham's art, which we don't get to see much anymore. Mildly recommended.

39 CRISIS AFTERMATH BATTLE FOR BLUDHAVEN #3 (Of 6) $2.99 DC 49,692

Wow. I have a lot of trouble believing this was a professional comic. It looked horrible, used a bunch of characters that should have stayed in Limbo (really, does ANYONE EVER WANT TO SEE THE NUCLEAR FAMILY AGAIN?!?!?). The art is stiff and seems rushed. This is one of the worst comics I've read in years, and should be avoided.

40 SQUADRON SUPREME #3 $2.99 MAR 49,205
41 CRISIS AFTERMATH BATTLE FOR BLUDHAVEN #4 (Of 6) $2.99 DC 48,834
42 X-MEN 198 #5 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 48,139

And with the last issue, once again the story falls apart. Rather than an actual conclusion, it sets up a plot-thread that may or may not be followed up on later, and rather than being a complete story, it's a “pilot” without saying where the story will be followed up on.

43 DAREDEVIL #85 $2.99 MAR 47,899

Daredevil is a book that has been great since the relaunch, and this issue is no different. There are mysteries that are moving forward, a solid story about Matt Murdock dealing with being in jail, and all of the different plot threads are building toward a conclusion. Unlike a lot of comics, this is one where I don't know where they are going, and am enjoying the ride. While it may be a super-hero comic on the surface, Daredevil is a crime story, a character study and Marvel's best on-going series. Highly recommended.

44 SON OF M #6 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 47,165

What a mess this series turned out to be. After a couple of solid issues, it quickly became hard to read with Quicksilver bellyaching in place of a plot or characterization. In the end, nothing was changed by this mini-series, and as a “sequel” to House of M, it was a waste of paper.

45 CAPTAIN AMERICA #18 $2.99 MAR 46,740

Brubaker's run on Captain America has been nothing short of amazing. Much like Daredevil, it tells a super-hero story in a new way, and makes a character who has been around for decades interesting by focusing on making great villains for the main character. The art has a weight and realism to it that enhances the stories, and the comic is Highly Recommended.

46 INCREDIBLE HULK #95 $2.99 MAR 46,571

The current story is one that could easily be REALLY bad, with Hulk sent to an alien planet that has Gladiator contests with other aliens. What could be either pointless fights or a string of cliches is instead a well constructed story that makes the Hulk interesting again. Mildly recommended, but you do have to read it from the beginning of the story arc.

47 NIGHTWING #120 $2.99 DC 46,076

I like Bruce Jones's writing. I think his horror stories of the 70's and 80's, and his run on the Hulk was very good until the last few issues. This series, however, is horrible. Confusing, poorly plotted and clearly a mess, this comic should be avoided.

48 OUTSIDERS #36 $2.99 DC 45,705
49 SUPERGIRL & LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #18 $2.99 DC 45,520

The revamp of the Legion has made the book one of DC's better comics, and the addition of the new Supergirl has taken a comic that was getting an A and makes it an A plus. This is the ONLY story using the new Supergirl that has been worth reading, and this great super-hero team book is one of the comics I look forward to every month. Highly recommended.

50 X-FACTOR #7 $2.99 MAR 44,315

I feel like I've just been praising every comic I write about...ok, Maybe not Nightwing, but this is another comic I am enjoying. Peter David is at his best on this series, and while it may be connected to the X-Men books, it's not a super-hero soap opera, but instead more of a super-hero noir book. Each story is well done, and the characters are fascinating, my only problem with the comic is that the whole thing seem too dark, and there are times it seems like no one in the comic has any light bulbs. A solid super-hero comic and highly recommended.

51 ANNIHILATION SILVER SURFER #2 (Of 4) $2.99 MAR 44,230

The Annihilation miniseries have all been an exercise in making characters that have been on the sidelines (or never much used at all) interesting again. Out of all of the miniseries, this is the best, but adds the least to the main character. It's not a great story, but I have a soft spot for the character, and like that they are dealing with the other heralds of Galactus in the course of the story. Mildly recommended.

52 X-MEN END MEN & X-MEN #5 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 43,851
53 SHE-HULK 2 #8 $2.99 MAR 43,812

I didn't buy the first series, but having picked up the trades and reading this series, I am glad that Marvel restarted it so that I could correct that problem. Normally, this is a funny comic that reads like an action-based sit-com, but this Civil War tie in deals more with that series, and almost feels like a fill-in. It's much different in tone that other issues, but still well done, and mildly recommended.

54 MS MARVEL #3 $2.99 MAR 43,048

Ms. Marvel is another of the 70's characters that Marvel is bringing back, and I was surprised that the story started in issue 1 was concluded here. After reading through the first story arc, this is a perfectly average super-hero comic, and has nothing to set it apart from other books, so if you are interested in the character, you'll like it. If you aren't, there's nothing here to change your mind.

55 CHECKMATE #2 $2.99 DC 41,773

One of the books I loved in the late 80's was DC's “Suicide Squad”. While this book isn't the same as that, it does have the same feel of an espionage comic that happens to have some super-heroes in it. I'm excited about where the book goes after the first arc, but this is another of DC's good new series launches and is mildly recommended.

56 BLUE BEETLE #3 $2.99 DC 41,711
57 ROBIN #150 $2.99 DC 41,417

After a long time of Robin not being worth reading, the book has turned around. It's not GREAT, but it's good again, and a solid super-hero comic aimed at younger readers. A solid middle-of-the-line comic.

58 NEW X-MEN #26 $2.99 MAR 40,073
59 ANNIHILATION NOVA #2 (Of 4) $2.99 MAR 39,602

I have a soft spot for Nova, since it was the first super-hero comic that I picked up the first issue of as a kid. This mini-series is about as different from that 70's series as possible and this mini-series is recasting him as the last warrior of a race destroying in the first issue of the Annihilation event. It's good, not great and is mildly recommended.

60 FANTASTIC FOUR DEATH IN THE FAMILY $3.99 MAR 39,247

This was a good fill-in story, but it wasn't good enough to be used as stand-alone comic. It's too bad that Marvel pitched this as a BIG DEAL, when it's really just a nice little story using the FF that would have been a nice single issue. Mildly recommended.

61 GREEN ARROW #62 $2.99 DC 39,185

I didn't care at all for this comic before One Year Later, and felt they had gotten too far away from the simple idea of a hero who is the best bowman in the world to a story with demons and the like. Now, it's back to stories that fit the character better, and use the villain Deathstroke, who is a perfect adversary for Green Arrow. Mildly recommended for super-hero fans.

62 IRON MAN #8 $2.99 MAR 38,860
63 NEW EXCALIBUR #7 $2.99 MAR 38,744
64 ANNIHILATION SUPER SKRULL #2 (Of 4) $2.99 MAR 38,327
65 JSA CLASSIFIED #12 $2.99 DC 37,446

This series is another one I like the idea of, with different creative teams putting together JSA stories that don't quite fit into the main book, but are good nonetheless. I loved the first two story arcs, but the current arc using long-time DC villain Vandal Savage hasn't really been a JSA story. It also hasn't been very good, so if you're wanting to read more stories about the Justice Society, wait until the next arc.

66 ANNIHILATION RONAN #2 (Of 4) $2.99 MAR 36,311
67 BIRDS OF PREY #94 $2.99 DC 34,905
68 PUNISHER #33 (MR) $2.99 MAR 34,480

Punisher is a comic that is next to impossible to review. Garth Ennis has been writing solid adventure stories, each of which runs six issues and is self-contained. The stories aren't great, but they are solid action/adventure stories using the character of the Punisher at his simple core: A criminal killing machine. Mildly recommended, but it works a lot better when the stories are collected.

69 EXILES #80 $2.99 MAR 34,039
70 EXILES #81 $2.99 MAR 33,908

This series was supposed to be taken over by Chris Claremont, but with his medical problems, the creative team that had finished up their stories now are staying on for a while. Normally, this would mean that the creative team is vamping, or just treading water, but that isn't the case here as they take the opportunity to do more character work. This is sill a comic for long-time comics fans who would know all of the different alternate universes the characters have come from, but if you are that kind of fan, this book is once again highly recommended.

71 JLA CLASSIFIED #21 $2.99 DC 33,800

This is much like the JSA Classified series, having different creative teams telling stories that don't tie in with the current stuff. The current arc, written by Steve Englehart, is one of the better ones, even though he is using the least popular version of the Justice League, the “Detroit era” team from the mid 80's where they replaced Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman with a bunch of new characters. The story reads like one from the 80's, but that's not a bad thing as he gives the characters more personality than they ever had. A fun story that is well worth reading and is highly recommended.

72 AQUAMAN SWORD OF ATLANTIS #42 $2.99 DC 32,610

I wish I liked this book since Kurt Busiek's ideas for Aquaman are fresh, interesting and probably the best the character has ever seen, but the art is so stiff, dark and bland that I just can't force myself through the book. Sadly, because of how bad the art is, I'm dropping the comic.

73 RED SONJA #10* $2.99 DE 32,479
74 LAST PLANET STANDING #1 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 32,232

A “Spider-Girl” spin-off set in the same alternate future that series inhabits. Tom DeFalco does a decent job introducing all of the characters he's created for this future, and does a Big Story about the a menace that could destroy the Earth is a nice enough story. It's nothing people will go nuts for, but it reads like an 80's comic that would have been a huge hit back then. The whole mini-series is mildly recommended.

75 CONAN #28 (MR) $2.99 DAR 31,675
76 BATMAN SECRETS #3 (Of 5) $2.99 DC 30,856
77 NEXTWAVE AGENTS OF HATE #5* $1.25 MAR 30,818

I LOVE THIS COMIC!!! Writer Warren Ellis points out the silliness of super-hero comics without mocking them, and the comic has tons of action, lots of super-hero stuff and still manages to be funny and exciting at the same time. A great comic that super-hero fans will love and people who don't like super-heroes will like for completely different reasons. Highly recommended and my favorite comic of the month.

78 CATWOMAN #55 $2.99 DC 30,184
79 HAWKGIRL #52 $2.99 DC 29,898

OK, I'm resigned to the fact that I don't much care for the story, and I think Walt Simonson doesn't quite know what to do with the character, but Howard Chaykin's art is so good and so much fun to read that I don't care. Check the art, and if you like it, you'll like the comic.

80 LAST PLANET STANDING #2 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 29,165
81 X-MEN APOCALYPSE DRACULA #4 (Of 4) $2.99 MAR 28,129

Having read the whole mini-series, I still have no idea why it was printed. The living embodiment of a “bio-degradable comic” in that you will forget most everything about it about an hour after you read it.

82 BLACK PANTHER #16 $2.99 MAR 28,091
83 TRANSFORMERS INFILTRATION #5 $2.99 IDW 27,264
84 SPAWN #156 $2.95 IMA 27,017

Spawn keeps moving along, although the sales have dropped by about 50k since they started putting it out on time. Maybe they should have kept shipping it a year late.

85 SHE-HULK 2 #7 $2.99 MAR 26,561

She-Hulk is another comic that I wasn't very interested in until I read a review. It's not a super-hero fight comic, but a new way of playing with the idea of super-heroes by having She-Hulk deal with legal cases involving super-heroes. Funny and well written, this comic is highly recommended.

86 PUNISHER TYGER (RES) (MR) $4.99 MAR 26,012

This was one great book, showing that Garth Ennis may be the best writer The Punisher has ever had. Dealing with the character's past, it is a great story about his youth, how he became who he is without just another version of the origin, and has amazing art by comics legend John Severin. It's probably the best Punisher story in the last few years and is well worth the $5 price tag. Highly recommended.

87 Y THE LAST MAN #45 (MR) $2.99 DC 25,866
88 BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED #4 (Of 4) $5.99 DC 25,835
89 CABLE DEADPOOL #28 $2.99 MAR 25,665
90 FABLES #49 (MR) $2.99 DC 24,444
91 BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #205 $2.99 DC 24,421
92 BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #206 $2.99 DC 24,228
93 RUNAWAYS #16 $2.99 MAR 23,842
94 STAR WARS REBELLION #2 $2.99 DAR 23,764

The Star Wars comics have been rebooted, and they still get it wrong as they don't use any of the characters from the main three movies. I tried it and just wasn't interested.

95 THUNDERBOLTS #102 $2.99 MAR 23,741

Every time I think I'm about ready to drop this book, it throws out a cool idea that keeps me around to see how they play it out. The comic is overwritten, and can be too complicated for its own good more often than not. I can't really recommend it, but if you're already reading it, I doubt you'll drop it just yet.

96 POWERS #18 (MR) $2.95 MAR 23,617

Powers was a comic that when it first started, I loved it, but now that it has gotten away from the “police procedural in a super-hero universe,” it's still good but not as great as those first 30 or so issues were. Mildly recommended.

97 FIRESTORM NUCLEAR MAN #25 $2.99 DC 23,301
98 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #5 $2.99 DAR 23,223
99 X-MEN FAIRY TALES #1 (Of 4) $2.99 MAR 22,922

This comic is about 20 years too late, as it re-interprets different fairy tales from different cultures as X-Men stories. Back when Claremont was at his peak on the X-Men books, he would have Kitty Pryde tell “bedtime stories” that were a fun break from the drama and angst. Now, it's been so long since that story device was used that this sort of story just doesn't appeal to me. Looks like I'm not the only one who didn't have a lot of interest.

100 TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS (IDW) #4 (Of 4) $2.99 IDW 22,590
101 STORM #4 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 22,513
102 BOOKS OF DOOM #6 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 22,304
103 MAN-BAT #2 (Of 5) $2.99 DC 22,273
104 CONAN BOOK OF THOTH #3 (Of 4) $4.99 DAR 22,150
105 JONAH HEX #7 $2.99 DC 21,910
106 RED SONJA CLAW DEVILS HANDS #3 (Of 4) $2.99 DC 21,887
107 ALL NEW OFFICIAL HANDBOOK MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z #5 $3.99 MAR 21,331
108 RED SONJA VS THULSA DOOM #4 (Of 4) $3.50 DE 21,153

The two different Red Sonja mini-series have been OK, and I have liked the Tulsa Doom story more than the crossover with obscure DC character Claw. The problem is that there is so much Red Sonja stuff out there that I'm starting to get tired of the character. It's solid heroic fantasy stuff, but I'd just recommend the Thulsa Doom mini to new readers.

109 GI JOE VS TRANSFORMERS VOL 3 ART OF WAR #3 (Of 5)* $2.95 DDP 20,612
110 EX MACHINA #20 (MR) $2.99 DC 20,589
111 SGT ROCK PROPHECY #5 (Of 6) $2.99 DC 20,543
112 SENTINEL SQUAD ONE #5 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 20,349

Another of the post “House of M” mini-series, this one focusing on the people who run the Sentinels. Yeah, it's about as boring as you would think it would be.

113 CAPTAIN ATOM ARMAGEDDON #8 (Of 9) $2.99 DC 19,755
114 IRON MAN INEVITABLE #6 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 19,724
115 BATMAN JOURNEY INTO KNIGHT #9 (Of 12) $2.50 DC 19,608
116 SOULFIRE #7 (RES) $2.99 ASP 19,600
117 THING #7 $2.99 MAR 19,592

Only one issue left of this great comic that should have gotten more attention. Highly recommended and the best stories about Ben Grimm since Jack Kirby was plotting the Fantastic Four.

118 FELL #5 $1.99 IMA 19,353

Not just a great experiment in form, but a solid experiment in storytelling. Warren Ellis is at his best on this 16 page comic, telling a deeper, richer story in those 16 pages than most creators do in three 32 page comics. The series is about a mysterious police detective in a bad part of town getting strange cases, and each issue is self contained. A great comic for casual readers and highly recommended.

119 FANTASTIC FOUR FIRST FAMILY #3 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 19,314
120 MARVEL TEAM-UP #20 $2.99 MAR 18,843

An unsung gem of the Marvel line, this comic is one that really couldn't be done in a normal series, since it follows a villain though their story rather than a hero or group of heroes. It sounds more complicated than it really is, and it's a perfect comic for a Marvel fan, since Robert Kirkman does a great job of making minor characters interesting, and making the most out of teaming characters. Highly recommended.

121 FANTASTIC FOUR #536* $2.99 MAR 18,681
122 WARLORD #4 $2.99 DC 18,480
123 FURY PEACEMAKER #4 (Of 6) $3.50 MAR 18,379
124 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #11 $2.95 DDP 18,148
125 SPIDER-GIRL #98 $2.99 MAR 17,738

Done with issue #100, this series has always been a nice little book that reads like a Marvel comic in the 80's. It'll never have a GREAT story, but if you are a fan of the super-hero soap opera style of the 80's with a main super-hero plot and ever simmering “personal problems” sub-plot, this comic is for you. Mildly recommended.

126 NEIL GAIMANS NEVERWHERE #7 (Of 9) $2.99 DC 17,568
127 BPRD UNIVERSAL MACHINE #2 (Of 5) $2.99 DAR 16,510
128 CYBERFORCE #3 $2.99 IMA 16,479
129 SPIDER-MAN UNLTD #15 $2.99 MAR 16,286

A nice little comic series that no one but me paid attention to. Each issue has a couple of short stories that focus on supporting characters or unique plots that aren't cover in mainstream Spidey comics, with creative teams who haven't shown a lot of work in super-heroes. Every issue had at least one story worth cover price, and most issues had two good stories in them. If you find the back issues, buy them up quickly since this series is highly recommended.

130 ARES #4 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 16,255
131 ARMY OF DARKNESS #7* $2.99 DE 16,062
132 LOVELESS #7 (RES) (MR) $2.99 DC 15,961
133 ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK DIRECTORS CUT $4.99 MAR 15,938
134 LIBERTY MEADOWS #37 (RES) $2.95 IMA 15,799

It's been a little over two years since the last issue of this comic came out, and with its return, it reminds me of how much I like the comic. It collects the comic strips, as well as having new strips, censored strips and wonderful presentation of the art. Frank Cho is one of the best artists to ever draw a comic strip, and this strip has completely eclipsed “Bloom County” which is resembled. Perfect for casual readers and highly recommended.

135 MANHUNTER #22 $2.99 DC 15,668
136 BITE CLUB VAMPIRE CRIME UNIT #2 (Of 5) (MR) $2.99 DC 15,652
137 X-STATIX PRESENTS DEAD GIRL #5 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 15,382

The last issue, and sadly with sales like this, there won't be a follow up. This was the best Dr. Strange story in years, and managed to tell a great super-hero story while poking fun at the fact that dead characters come back all the time in comics. Probably my favorite mini-series of the year, with wonderful art that evokes the best Silver Age artists by Mike Allred, this book is highly recommended.

138 ETERNALS SKETCHBOOK $1.99 MAR 15,351
139 FANTASTIC FOUR #537* $2.99 MAR 15,220
140 DMZ #7 (MR) $2.99 DC 15,026
141 AMERICAN VIRGIN #3 (MR) $2.99 DC 14,764
142 HAUNT OF HORROR EDGAR ALLAN POE #1 (Of 3) (MR) $3.99 MAR 14,517

This is an odd comic, and doesn't even seem like something that would come out from Marvel. It's a horror anthology adapting Poe stories. I would have picked it up at $3 an issue, but at $4 an issue, and only three issues (meaning it will be a VERY slim book if collected) it just isn't worth the money it would cost.

143 WRAITHBORN #6 (Of 6) $3.99 DC 14,455
144 MARVEL ZOMBIES #1 (Of 5)* $2.99 MAR 14,215
145 WITCHBLADE #98 $2.99 IMA 14,192
146 MARVEL LEGACY 1970S HANDBOOK $4.99 MAR 14,161

These “Who's Who” handbooks are good fun for people who haven't read a lot of comics, since it gives a rundown of the characters and their history. For long time readers, it's a walk down nostalgia street and is recommended for people who like that sort of thing.

147 HELLBLAZER #220 (MR) $2.99 DC 14,161
148 WILDCATS NEMESIS #9 (Of 9) $2.99 DC 14,123
149 MARVEL ADVS AVENGERS #1 $2.99 MAR 13,891
150 TRANSFORMERS GENERATIONS (IDW) #3 (NOTE PRICE) $2.49 IDW 13,844
151 100 BULLETS #72 (MR) $2.99 DC 13,489
152 BLOOD OF THE DEMON #15 $2.99 DC 13,327

Ending with another issue, this is one of the very few DC books that was not helped with sales by “One Year Later”, proving to DC that no matter what they did, they wouldn't be able to move the needle on it. It's also John Byrne's last series assignment that has been announced, and while it's easy to dog pile on him, my feeling is that that main reason his books don't sell is kind of simple: The people buying comics now are continuity freaks, so if a creator starts a book and says that the book will be discarding recent continuity or ignoring what is ignoring what is going on in the rest of a super-hero line, it takes a LOT to get fans to buy it.

153 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE GRIND #1 (Of 3) (MR)* $3.99 AVA 13,188
154 ZOMBIES #1 $3.99 IDW 12,856

Another of the zombie books that are flooding the market, but this one didn't seem to have a unique enough hook to get me interested. I'll wait and see if it's solid if it's a trade.

155 BLUE BEETLE #1* $2.99 DC 12,740
156 TESTAMENT #6 (MR) $2.99 DC 12,361
157 INFINITE CRISIS #6 (Of 7)* $3.99 DC 12,183
158 SHRUGGED #0 $2.50 ASP 12,044
159 ANGEL SPOTLIGHT ILLYRIA ONE SHOT $3.99 IDW 11,805
160 PAINKILLER JANE #2* $2.99 DE 11,681
161 GIRLS #13 (MR) $2.99 IMA 11,403

A surprisingly good horror comic that has a strange premise. It works because the creators do a good job of making the reader believe the characters and the setting so that the strange events happening to them doesn't knock the reader out of the story. It is being collected in trades, and normally, I'd buy it that way, but after reading the first few issues, I HAD to get the story as soon as it came out, and I can't think of a higher recommendation.

162 SPIKE VS DRACULA #3 (Of 5) $3.99 IDW 11,341
163 MARVEL ZOMBIES #5 (Of 5)* $2.99 MAR 11,195
164 DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON #5 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 11,164

I really wanted to like this comic. I like the characters, and I like the idea of a comic that tries to be a high octane action story in a comic without super-heroics. It just doesn't work, for some reason, and the comic lost me by the second issue.

165 TEEN TITANS GO #31 $2.25 DC 11,140
166 EXTERMINATORS #5 (MR) $2.99 DC 10,978
167 SIMPSONS COMICS #118 $2.99 BON 10,700

Probably the best TV tie-in comic ever, this comic is like watching a classic episode, and is better than the TV show has been for the last couple of years. Highly recommended for Simpsons viewers.

168 RISING STARS UNTOUCHABLE #4 (Of 5) $2.99 IMA 10,685
169 MAJESTIC #17 $2.99 DC 10,607
170 ANGEL SPOTLIGHT GUNN ONE SHOT $3.99 IDW 10,507
171 ALBION #5 (Of 6) (RES) $2.99 DC 10,476
172 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLTD #21 $2.25 DC 10,430
173 LUCIFER #74 (MR) $2.99 DC 10,399
174 CONAN #27 (MR) $2.99 DAR 10,383

Conan is a classic fantasy character and created the “sword and sorcery” genre in comics and novels. The Dark Horse run has been the best use of the character since the height of the Thomas/Buscema run of the 70's. Beautiful art and a different take on the classic Robert E. Howard stories make the stories interesting even for those of us who are long time Conan fans. Highly recommended.

175 NECROMANCER #5 $2.99 IMA 10,121
176 TEAM ZERO #6 (Of 6) $2.99 DC 9,843
177 WOLFSKIN #1 (Of 3) (MR)* $3.99 AVA 9,804
178 AMERICAN WAY #4 (Of 8) $2.99 DC 9,580
179 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #38 (MR) $2.95 BRO 9,557
180 BATMAN #652* $2.50 DC 9,549
181 NEW MANGAVERSE #5 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 9,503

Marvel keeps coming out with these books, despite low sales because the collections sell well in bookstores. The other mangaverse books have been fun reads with slightly different versions of the main Marvel heroes. Mildly recommended when it is collected in a digest.

182 SKYE RUNNER #2* $2.99 DC 9,464
183 FORGOTTEN REALMS DARK ELF SOJOURN #2 CVR A (Of 3) $4.95 DDP 9,232
184 RIVAL SCHOOLS #1* $4.95 UDO 9,163
185 FALLEN ANGEL IDW #5 (Of 5) $3.99 IDW 9,155

While it sold about 10K more at DC, the comic is actually better with its new publisher. Painted art, a deeper story, and some of Peter David's best writing, this series is shamefully under ordered and one of the better comics on the stands. Oh, and ignore the “5 of 5” thing, since it has been picked up as a regular series. Highly recommended.

186 ELFQUEST DISCOVERY #3 (Of 4) $3.99 DC 9,109

I'm surprised that Elfquest is selling so poorly, since it was one of the first major indy/self-published success stories, at one point having a novel series as well as three or four comic series. Now that's it's been relaunched, it's not doing well in the comic shops, but it's main appeal is to fantasy fans, so I would imagine when this is collected and put into book stores, it will fly off the shelf. For fantasy fans, this is probably the best comic out there, and is mildly recommended for everyone else.

187 STRANGERS IN PARADISE #82 $2.95 ABS 8,970
188 SPIKE LOST & FOUND ONE SHOT $7.49 IDW 8,962
189 DOC SAMSON #5 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 8,738

Dear Marvel, dropping a mini-series about a minor character with no build up or tie in with another series with unknown creators will get you sales like this. If I know this, and I'm not all that bright, why don't you? Oh, and the story is utterly forgettable.

190 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #4 (Of 4)* $3.99 AVA 8,583
191 JUSTICE #5 (Of 12)* $3.50 DC 8,498
192 BATMAN STRIKES #21 $2.25 DC 8,467
193 FUTURAMA COMICS #25 $2.99 BON 8,413

With the news that this series is coming back, while it will be nice to get more episodes of the show, this comic has always been just as good as the series, which is all you can ask of a comic based on a TV show. Funny, fun and highly recommended.

194 MOUSE GUARD #3 (Of 6) $3.50 ARS 8,336
195 ION #1 (Of 12)* $2.99 DC 8,274
196 UNDERWORLD #4 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 8,158
197 HARD TIME SEASON TWO #6 $2.99 DC 8,104

The fact that this comic sells so poorly is a damn shame. Steve Gerber has mixed social commentary, brilliant character observation and a nod to the idea that you have to have super-heroic trappings in a comic book. The entire series has been some of Gerber's best work, and this issue is no exception. Highly recommended.

198 WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS #3* $3.99 AVA 8,073
199 DETECTIVE COMICS #817 2ND PTG $2.50 DC 7,996
200 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #1 $2.99 MAR 7,988
201 MOUSE GUARD #2 $3.50 ARS 7,927
202 SWAMP THING #27 (MR) $2.99 DC 7,795
203 DETECTIVE COMICS #818* $2.50 DC 7,749
204 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #162 $2.25 ARC 7,625
205 TEEN TITANS #34* $2.50 DC 7,548
206 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #531 $2.99 MAR 7,332
207 JUSTICE #4 (Of 12)* $3.50 DC 7,309
208 BUCKAROO BANZAI #1 (Of 3) $3.50 MOO 7,262

I can't be anything but in geek heaven over this comic. I was a HUGE fan of the movie, was a member of the “Blue Blaze Irregulars” fan club, and have been excited about this comic since it was announced a year ago. This comic, based on a story by the original screenwriter, has the same sense of gonzo pulp adventure that made the movie so much fun. Highly recommended, and THIS is what a movie based comic should be, not an adaptation, but a continuation of the story or characters.

209 LAST CHRISTMAS #1 (Of 6) $2.99 IMA 7,092
210 SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #6 $2.99 MAR 7,069
211 SAVAGE DRAGON #126 $2.99 IMA 6,891
212 ABC A TO Z TOP 10 & TEAMS $3.99 DC 6,652
213 AVENGERS & POWER PACK ASSEMBLE #2 (Of 4) $2.99 MAR 6,613

The Power Pack comics that Marvel has been putting out aren't much like the beloved 80's series featuring the characters, but it is a great comic for kids with solid plotting, clean art and stories that don't talk down to the reader. I like that Marvel is putting out comics for younger readers, and if you have kids, they'll like this comic.

214 LOADED BIBLE JESUS VS VAMPIRES ONE SHOT (MR) $4.99 IMA 6,590

Didn't I already see this idea as “Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter”? And I'll doubt this comic has a music sequence as good as that movie had.

215 GI JOE SIGMA 6 #6 $2.95 DDP 6,443
216 BLUE BEETLE #2* $2.99 DC 6,420
217 EMISSARY #1 $3.50 IMA 6,250
218 CHECKMATE #1* $2.99 DC 6,219
219 SONIC X #8 $2.25 ARC 6,204
220 LOCAL #5 (Of 12) (MR) $2.99 ONI 6,181
221 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH WAR OF THE WINDS #2 (Of 8)* $3.99 AVA 6,181

Lady Death is a character that has been around for over a decade, and yet has never really lit up the sales charts. Through 3 publishers, it has always been settled in this part of the sales chart, so there must be a core audience for it. The stories I've read haven't impressed me, being bland horror/girly art and a pretty repetitive set of stories. Pass.

222 MARVEL ADVS SPIDER-MAN #15 $2.99 MAR 6,165
223 SONIC X #9 $2.25 ARC 6,096
224 ZOOM SUIT #2 (Of 4) $2.95 SUP 6,041
225 OMAC PROJECT INFINITE CRISIS SP* $4.99 DC 6,003
226 ROBIN #148* $2.50 DC 5,725
227 ACTION COMICS #837* $2.50 DC 5,454
228 THUNDERBOLT JAXON #4 (Of 5) $2.99 DC 5,408

DC's lowest selling super-hero comic, and it's another case of DC dropping a book on the market with little promotion and no tie-in with other books, meaning not enough people heard about it and were interested to make it a successful launch.

229 CRISIS AFTERMATH BATTLE FOR BLUDHAVEN #1 (Of 6)* $2.99 DC 5,346
230 MOON KNIGHT #1* $2.99 MAR 5,292
231 CLIVE BARKERS GREAT & SECRET SHOW #3 (Of 12) $3.99 IDW 5,292
232 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #114 $4.99 KZR 5,261

A great comic, and a must read for gamers, it tells the stories of a few groups of gamers, focusing on the humor involved in the players. The art is all done via clip art from previous stories, but since the humor relies on the characters and dialog, you forget about it after a couple of pages. It also has articles about gaming, fan strips and the like, making this a great 100 page package for $5. Highly recommended for anyone who's rolled a 20 sided die.

233 CITY OF HEROES #13 $2.99 IMA 5,207
234 WORMWOOD GENTLEMAN CORPSE TASTER $3.99 IDW 5,184
235 PVP #26 $2.99 IMA 5,176
236 MY INNER BIMBO #1 (Of 5) (MR) $2.99 ONI 5,161
237 GREEN ARROW #60* $2.50 DC 5,099
238 WONDERLAND #1 $3.50 SLG 5,084
239 LADY DEATH INFERNAL SINS SP CVR* $2.99 AVA 5,076
240 FEAR AGENT #4 $2.99 IMA 5,053
241 NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 $3.99 MAR 5,045
242 LIONS TIGERS & BEARS VOL 2 #2 (Of 4) $2.99 IMA 4,999
243 METAL GEAR SOLID SONS OF LIBERTY #6 $3.99 IDW 4,875
244 UNCLE SCROOGE #354 $6.95 GEM 4,875
245 MARVEL ADVS FANTASTIC FOUR #12 $2.99 MAR 4,836
246 ARCHENEMIES #2 (Of 4) $2.99 DAR 4,774
247 QUEEN & COUNTRY #30 (MR) $2.99 ONI 4,697
248 GREEN ARROW #61 2ND PTG $2.50 DC 4,628
249 RAYMOND E FEIST MAGICIAN APPRENTICE #1 BOOTH CVR $2.95 DAB 4,566
250 DONALD DUCK & FRIENDS #340 $2.95 GEM 4,504
251 SCOOBY DOO #108 $2.25 DC 4,496
252 MARVEL ROMANCE REDUX I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BLONDE $2.99 MAR 4,473

It's too bad this series of one shots hasn't found an audience, since I think it is hilarious. They take old romance comics and rewrite them as a satire of the old stories, and other than a couple of clunkers in previous issues, the books are uniformly funny.

253 GODLAND #11 $2.99 IMA 4,473
254 SHONEN JUMP JULY 06 #43 $4.99 VIZ 4,473

I say it every month, so I'll say it again: This comic sells over a quarter million copies a month outside comic shops. I really think if Marvel and DC looked at this comic as a way to package this books, they could sell a lot more comics to people who don't read them. The comic itself is aimed at younger pre-teen and teenaged boys, and they appear to like it. Since I'm not one, I don't.

255 CTHULHU TALES #1 $6.99 BOO 4,257
256 OUTSIDERS #34 2ND PTG $2.50 DC 4,241
257 MARVEL MILESTONES BLACK PANTHER STORM & KA-ZAR $3.99 MAR 4,211
258 LOVE & ROCKETS VOL 2 #16 (MR) $4.50 FAN 4,187
259 GOLD DIGGER #75* $2.99 ANT 4,141
260 TRUTH JUSTIN & AMERICAN WAY #2 (Of 5) $2.99 IMA 4,133
261 MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #289 $2.95 GEM 4,087
262 SEA OF RED #9 (RES) (MR) $2.99 IMA 4,056
263 ORSON SCOTT CARD WYRMS #1 CVR A $2.95 DAB 4,056
264 HERO SQUARED ONGOING #1 $3.99 BOO 4,002

I just read the trade paperback of the mini-series that launched this book, and really liked it. It has a great super-hero sit-com set up, has the same style and sense of humor as the Giffen/DeMatties JLA, but the cover price is just too much for this comic. I'll continue to buy it in trade form, because $4 for a regular comic that I can read in less than 10 minutes is just too much.

265 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #529* $2.50 MAR 3,901
266 VILLAINS UNITED INFINITE CRISIS SP $4.99 DC 3,894
267 REX MUNDI #18 $2.99 IMA 3,878
268 HAUNTED MANSION #3 $2.95 SLG 3,816

Another anthology comic, this one all based around Disney's Haunted Mansion, but with a goth-y/indy comic twist. It's a nice collection of darkly strange stories this is better than a comic based on a Disney ride should be. Highly recommended.

269 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #669 $6.95 GEM 3,755
270 NEGATIVE BURN #1 $5.99 IMA 3,716

The return of the best anthology of the 90's, this time through Image. This re-launch has some of the original artists, some new artists and the same great style of black and white indy stories. One of the few comics that is more than worth the higher cover price and is highly recommended.

271 APOCALYPSE NERD #3 $2.99 DAR 3,677

This is why I tend to not buy mini-series, even if I really like the creator. I have liked Peter Bagge's work since the 80's, and this mini-series feels like the last issue came out back then. This issue is over a year late, which has probably killed the sales.

272 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #113 (MR) $2.99 DAR 3,623
273 BOMB QUEEN #4 (Of 4) (MR) $3.50 IMA 3,492
274 WILL EISNERS JOHN LAW ANGELS ASHES DEVILS DUST #1 $3.99 IDW 3,461

John Law was one of Eisner's minor characters, and this comic just didn't grab me. The character reads like a pale imitation of “The Spirit”, and lacks the visual imagination of Eisner's layouts.

275 ATOMIKA #7 (Of 12) $2.99 MER 3,453
276 HAWKGIRL #50* $2.50 DC 3,407
277 SEA OF RED #10 (RES) (MR) $2.99 IMA 3,399
278 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #100 $2.25 ARC 3,392
279 WALT DISNEYS VACATION PARADE #3 $8.95 GEM 3,361
280 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #27 $2.95 MIR 3,299
281 NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI SP $3.99 MAR 3,245
282 LADY DEATH INFERNAL SINS $2.50 AVA 3,245
283 BOOK OF SHADOWS #2 (Of 2) $3.50 IMA 3,191
284 TALES OF ALVIN MAKER RED PROPHET #2 CVR A $2.95 DAB 3,137
285 SILENT HILL DEAD ALIVE #5 (Of 5) (MR) $3.99 IDW 3,067
286 ANGEL SCRIPTBOOK #3 $3.99 IDW 3,067
287 INCREDIBLE HULK #94 $2.99 MAR 3,059
288 FEAR DEAD ZOMBIE SURVIVORS JOURNAL $6.99 BOO 3,021
289 DEADWORLD #4 (MR) $3.50 IMA 2,998

This is the original Zombie comic, come back now that there is a boom in the subject matter. Unlike “Walking Dead” this is a comic for horror fans only, with a lot of mystic/horror elements, less emphasis on the human characters and a lot of gore. Highly recommended for horror fans, but not for other readers, and they have also put out a CD of all of the issues of the previous series which has over 50 comics for about $30.

290 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #530 $2.50 MAR 2,967
291 BLACKBEARD LEGACY #1 $3.50 ALI 2,959
292 SUPERGIRL & LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #17 $2.99 DC 2,897
293 REVOLUTION ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #4 (Of 6) $3.95 MET 2,889
294 DORK TOWER #33 $3.49 DOR 2,859
295 STRANGE GIRL #8 $2.99 IMA 2,851
296 ARTESIA BESIEGED #1 (Of 6) (MR) $3.95 ARS 2,828
297 TALES OF TMNT #22 $3.25 MIR 2,804
298 COBB OFF LEASH #1 $3.99 IDW 2,781

I almost didn't buy this comic, since I have a lot of trouble spending $4 for a 32 page comic, especially a black and white comic, but writer Beau Smith put together a great action story that reads like a good 80's action movie, and has a great lead character. It's too bad the book isn't selling better, since it is highly recommended.

299 TALES OF TMNT #23 $3.25 MIR 2,774
300 LOONEY TUNES #138 $2.25 DC 2,774

Just a year ago, the #300 selling comic was barely breaking 900, and now it's almost 3000, which means sales are higher overall. The only problem with it is that there are so many re-orders from Marvel and DC that a lot of indy comics have been completely squeezed out of the top 300, and probably have been dropped in sales as well, since comic shops only have so much money to spend on new books.

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