The Top 300 Selling Comics For December 2003

This list comes from digging through sales figures, asking too many questions and using Diamond Comics information. The snotty comments in white are from me.

1 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #1 $2.25 MAR 173,441

The new version of the FF by Bendis and Mark Millar. This is the first of the Ultimates series I have been interested in that I am going to just wait and buy the hardcovers of. They usually have more "backstage" stuff like scripts and sketchbook information in them, and read better as collected works anyway. I did read the first issue tho, and while I don't MIND the changes they have made, I'm glad they made them in a new "universe" rather than trying to jam them into the normal FF series. As a first issue, it was pretty slow, like all the other Ultimate books.

2 MARVEL 1602 #5 (Of 8) $3.50 MAR 115,517

Buying it as a collected version. Thanks for asking, however.

3 NEW X-MEN #150 (Note Price) $3.50 MAR 110,591

Grant Morrison finishes his Big X-Men story in a way that was perfectly predictable and yet well done. Jimenez's art works perfectly with Morrison's re-imaging of the X-Men myth into modern thought. Truly one of the best super-hero comics on the stands, and quite possibly the best the X-Men has even been. Highly recommended.

4 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #50 (Note Price) $2.99 MAR 109,819

The start of a new story, and a great issue on it's own. When the "Ultimate" stuff started at Marvel, I thought it would just be another retread of the early Marvel stories with a bunch of unneeded crap added to it (That's right, Spider-Man Chapter One, I'm talking to YOU). Instead, this series has been one of the better Marvel books, not by re-doing the past, but just making Spider-Man a character that readers can get to know all over again. Always entertaining, and well worth reading if you like Spider-Man, this comic is always Highly recommended.

5 ULTIMATES #12 $2.25 MAR 104,572

Sadly, this is more what I feared would happen with the Ultimate books. The old heroes in new "grim and gritty" tales that throw in shock value, sex and violence in a way that does nothing to add to the story. And, it took the creative team over 2 and a half years to get 12 issues done. I wouldn't mind if they were worth it, but they aren't. This is a nastier version of the "Heroes Reborn" type stuff they did a few years ago when they gave over a bunch of characters to Image. Pass.

6 ULTIMATE X-MEN #40 $2.25 MAR 104,443

Didn't care for this book until Bendis took over the writing, and now it's another great comic. Rather than getting overly complicated (as it was under the previous team) Bendis strips a story down to the essentials and adds dialogue that makes the characters feel "real". Highly recommended.

7 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #4 $2.95 DC 102,725

Still selling well, which tells me that people would really like to read a good Superman story. This is one, and the art by McGuinness is finally getting the acclaim it has deserved since he worked on Deadpool. A big super-hero story that just goes with full-out action. Recommended for super-hero fans.

8 ULTIMATE SIX #5 (Of 7) $2.25 MAR 100,289

Buying it as a trade. Just to piss off John Byrne. Oh, and because I am one of those CRAZY people who would rather sit down and read a story all at once, rather than read it chapter by chapter. I know. It's nuts. Most people read novels by reading a chapter, then setting it down for a MONTH and then going back and reading the next chapter, and they do that with about 20 books at a time right?

NO, THEY DON'T.

And that's why I prefer trade paperbacks. And any creator who whines about that fact needs to get their head out of the 70's and start thinking like a novelist instead of a soap opera writer.

9 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #51 $2.25 MAR 96,990
10 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #5 $2.95 DC 96,420
11 BATMAN #622 $2.25 DC 91,899

Strangely enough, I prefer the current team (best known for the work on 100 Bullets) to the Big Jim Lee Batman stuff. The story is richer, more surprising and the art is better at actually telling the story. But Lee sure makes a nice poster, don't he?

12 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #502 (#61) $2.25 MAR 90,484

Both this and the Fantastic Four are doing something I haven't seen done in a while, and I like the idea behind it. There was BIG event in the Anniversary issue, and the creators are actually showing the aftermath of those events. In Spider-Man, it's that there was a lot of mystic energy floating around, and it caused things to go haywire. So far, it's been entertaining, and this is still a book that is a good read. It doesn't have the feel of the Spider-Man comic I am used to (soap opera subplots and big fight scenes), and feels more like "Spider-Man, The Prime Time TV Series", but it's a hell of a lot better than most other super-hero books. Mildly recommended.

13 UNCANNY X-MEN #434 $2.25 MAR 90,318
14 UNCANNY X-MEN #435 $2.25 MAR 89,767
15 UNCANNY X-MEN #436 $2.25 MAR 89,105

Three issues in one month. I wonder if Marvel is trying figure out a way to get the book to come out weekly so that they can make EVEN more money off it. Too bad the story in these issues was one of the worst even in the X-Men. And that is saying a lot. The whole "Nightcrawler's dad is Satan, or maybe he isn't" is annoying AT BEST and a terrible misunderstanding of the character in any case. Avoid these issues.

16 WOLVERINE #9 $2.25 MAR 74,659

I am still pretty shocked that I like a Wolverine comic, but Greg Rucka continues to tell straight action stories that delve into Wolverine's character while still delivering the action in an entertaining way. The current story about illegal immigration is gripping and highly recommended.

17 SUPREME POWER #5 (MR) $2.99 MAR 70,321
18 TEEN TITANS #6 $2.50 DC 69,255

Still selling amazingly well, which shows that people are actually pretty hungry for super-hero team books. This one is pretty much an average comic, and doesn't suck...and that's the best thing I can say about it.

19 SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #8 $2.25 MAR 62,721

The Dr. Octopus story currently running in this title is MUCH better than the Venom story that started the series, but Ramos's art no longer appeals to me as he tends toward the extremes of his style and becomes more and more detached from actual anatomy and uses the exaggerated style less for effect and more for its own sake.

20 X-TREME X-MEN #35 $2.99 MAR 61,030
21 JLA #91 $2.25 DC 58,981
22 X-TREME X-MEN #36 (Note Price) $3.50 MAR 58,512
23 X-TREME X-MEN #37 (Note Price) $3.50 MAR 58,043

This was a 4 issue Storm "Mini-series" within the series, and it shows that every once in a while, Chris Claremont writes a story that is just utterly unhinged. In this 4 issue story, Storm acts horridly out of character, the plot strained the suspension of disbelief and in the end is easily dismissed. Normally, I say that this book is for the people who like Chris Claremont's work but won't get him any new readers...this story will LOSE him readers (as seen by the drop from 61000 to 58000).

24 AVENGERS #75 (RES) $2.25 MAR 57,814
25 X-TREME X-MEN #38 (Note Price) $3.50 MAR 57,804
26 AVENGERS #76 (RES) $2.25 MAR 57,501

And in the last issue by Geoff Johns, it's pretty obvious that he was not suited to this comic. His stories on the Avengers have been pretty bland, and weren't helped by the "big shocks" he crammed into his work, like this one featuring the death of a character that no one has even given much of a damn about. However, if the writing of Chuck Austin on "Uncanny X-Men" is any indication, it is about to get worse.

27 DAREDEVIL #55 $2.99 MAR 53,660
28 WANTED #1 (Of 6) (MR)* $2.99 IMA 53,641

Mark Millar trying to shock us with profanity and sex. At this point, I think it's pretty much impossible to shock us with sex and profanity in a creator owned super-hero book. This was hyped as "The Watchmen of Super-villains." Sorry, it's more the Watchmen of self-indulgent twaddle that really likes seeing the word "Fuck" in print.

29 TRANSFORMERS GENERATION ONE VOL 3 #0* $2.95 DRE 53,081
30 GI JOE/TRANSFORMERS #5 (Of 6)* $2.95 IMA 52,934
31 TRANSFORMERS/GI JOE #4 (Of 6) $2.95 DRE 52,199
32 INCREDIBLE HULK #64 $2.25 MAR 51,960

OK, so the Big Event at the end of Peter David's run has been undone, and Betty Brant is alive. I'm willing to see where this goes, but Jones needs to pick up the pace of his overall stories a bit, since there is starting to be a sameness to his story arcs on Hulk.

33 HULK GRAY #4 (Of 6) $3.50 MAR 51,546
34 FANTASTIC FOUR #508 (#79) $2.25 MAR 50,333

8 issues after #500, and the characters are STILL dealing with the aftermath of that big story. In a less talented creator's hands, this would be cause for complaint, but Mark Waid is doing it not only to tell good stories, but to show that there ARE aftereffects of a devastating battle in the "super-hero" world. Probably the best run on this comic since John Byrne, and Highly recommended for super-hero fans.

35 GI JOE/TRANSFORMERS #6 (Of 6)* $2.95 IMA 49,120
36 SUPERMAN #200 (Note Price) $3.50 DC 47,346

A big mess of a comic that ends with a "shock ending" that didn't so much shock me and make me wonder how long until they undo what they've done. The Superman books desperately need a major revamp, and I'm actually hoping that the big changes they are making in creative teams help what is clearly a franchise that has become amazingly stale.

37 OUTSIDERS #7 $2.50 DC 47,052

Not doing as well as "Teen Titans" (its sister book) but I find this one a bit more interesting, since the characters are ones I like better. But still, it's pretty much a painfully average super-hero book and nothing to go out of your way to get unless you are a super-hero team fan.

38 CAPTAIN AMERICA #21 $2.99 MAR 43,018

Chris Bachalo continues to try and bring his style to mainstream super-heroes. I love his art, but he's just not very good at the kind of action that a book like Captain America should have. Still, the new story is a bit intriguing and I want to see where it goes. Recommended with reservations.

39 JSA #55 $2.50 DC 43,009

A wonderful Christmas story that shows that you can have a comic heavy in continuity that still is accessible to readers who are picking up their first comic book. It is also a good Christmas story, which is kind of rare in comics anymore. Highly recommended.

40 NYX #3 $2.99 MAR 40,050

The first two issues of this series were pretty standard stuff about a teenage girl finding out she had super-powers. It was OK, but nothing great, and dressed up with a lot of sexual overtones. This issue feels like a completely different series, and has a theme of teenage girls being sexually exploited, a tough subject to deal with anyway, but even harder to deal with in the context of an action series. It just didn't work for me and left a bad taste in my mouth.

41 TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN VOL 2 #3 $2.95 DRE 39,958
42 FORMERLY KNOWN A/T JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 (Of 6) $2.50 DC 38,680

And Lo There Shall Come An Ending... Which is what they should have called this to fit in a joke for those of us who still think that overblown type of title is silly. This was a GREAT mini-series, bringing back the creative team behind the Justice League series of the late 80's and early 90's, and still hit the mark. A funny, incredibly well drawn comic that is the most fun I've had reading a comic in a while. Highly recommended, even if you aren't a super-hero fan.

43 PUNISHER #37 $2.99 MAR 38,561

Wrapping up the "dark humor" run of the Punisher, with super-hero guest stars, over-the-top violence and a lot of absurd moments. If you liked the 12 issue mini-series Garth Ennis did, this will be to your liking, as the violence is like a Road Runner cartoon with real injuries. Mildly recommend, unless you want to see Wolverine get messed up pretty bad, then it's Highly recommended.

44 EXILES #38 $2.99 MAR 38,542
45 EXILES #39 $2.99 MAR 38,313

Focusing on the "evil team" that jumps from alternate universe to alternate universe to "fix" things, this run was a bit more interesting than the average Exiles story, since one of the members of the team decided not to complete their mission, but take of the world instead. Still, without a good understanding of Marvel continuity, you'll be a bit lost, so it's only recommended for Marvel Fans.

46 EMMA FROST #6 $2.50 MAR 37,890
47 THANOS #3 $2.99 MAR 37,706

Thanos kicks it old school with Jim Starlin telling the same kind of "big cosmic story" he always does. This is a textbook example of comics feeding off of their own nostalgia, and as suck is pretty much only good reading for previous fans of the creator.

48 GREEN ARROW #33 $2.50 DC 36,934

Losing...interest....rapidly...

49 SPAWN #131 $2.50 IMA 36,493

I have now been asking if anyone is reading this comic for 3 years and I have YET to get a reply. And the comic has lost over 100K in sales since then. I would imagine sales would be even lower if they weren't a little over a year behind, since these are based on orders from 2002!

50 DETECTIVE COMICS #789 $2.75 DC 36,456

The one Batman book that I find myself not reading until I have a few of them, and then I tend to buzz through them pretty fast. Not worth the effort most of the time, sadly.

51 GI JOE #25* $2.95 IMA 36,300
52 SILVER SURFER #4 (RES) $2.25 MAR 36,282

Almost as late as "The Ultimates". I have major issues with the covers, since they all pretty much look the same, it's next to impossible to know when a new issue is on the shelf. I would think that if you are trying to stand out (which is what a cover is supposed to do), you would work fairly hard to make sure each one was at least a little different.

53 FLASH #205 $2.25 DC 34,931

It's starting to look like the "Big change" in Issue #200 (giving Flash his secret identity back, giving him a job and a personal life, etc...) is about to be discarded as just a story arc, which is too bad. This is also not a book Geoff Johns does as well on as he does on JSA.

54 VENOM #9 $2.99 MAR 33,543
55 PLANETARY #18 $2.95 DC 32,771

After waiting two years between issues, and reading that the series will end around issue #25, I've decided to just buy it in books, sold off the first 12 issues for decent money and bought the hardcovers. The series DOES work as individual issues, but with huge delays between issues, I find it better just to buy the collected versions.

56 THOR #72 $2.99 MAR 31,953
57 IRON MAN #75 $2.99 MAR 31,889

Iron Man as Secretary of Defense? I think it's a fun idea to try, but then again, I thought Lex Luthor winning the Presidency over in DC was a fun idea they did very little with. If they DO follow through on the idea, I hope that they do some research and pull a "West Wing" with it, rather than "Gee, in my job as Secretary of State, I have to figure out how to get out of this meeting to go fight the Mandarin, who has weapons of mass destruction."

58 PLASTIC MAN #1 $2.95 DC 31,512

A GREAT fun comic that is a pure joy to read. Kyle Baker's art captures the silliness of the character, and is probably the first version of the character not by Creator Jack Cole that works. However, it's not a "mainsteam art style", a humor series, and will probably be canceled by the 20th issue. So buy it NOW and enjoy it while you can. Highly recommended.

59 SPIDER-MAN & DR OCTOPUS NEGATIVE EXPOSURE #3 $2.99 MAR 31,145
60 GREEN LANTERN #172 $2.25 DC 31,080

And soon, Ron Marz is coming back. I'm now mad about CrossGen cutting back because it means Ron Marz will be writing mainstream comics again, and filling them with his half-baked plots, bland characters and overt hatred toward women. Look for sales to go up.

61 ASTRO CITY LOCAL HEROES #5 (Of 5) $2.95 DC 30,961
62 SPIDER-MAN/DR OCTOPUS OUT OF REACH #2 (OF 5) $2.99 MAR 30,832
63 BIRDS O/PREY #62 $2.50 DC 30,529
64 ROBIN #121 $2.25 DC 30,483

One of the few times a new creative team has caused a book to go HUGE when it isn't a change to a "hot artist". Bill Willingham has done some great work in the past, and his first issue of Robin is readable. I'm not expecting "Fables" or "Elementals", but if he can make this a consistantly entertaining comic with interesting villains, I'll be darn happy to read it. It's GOT to be better than the crap in this comic for the past 2 or so years. Mildly recommended as the creators get up to speed.

65 JSA ALL STARS #8 (Of 8) $2.50 DC 30,244

Buying it as a trade. "Gee, Cory, How do you KNOW it will be a trade paperback?" It has a story by Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon in it. They WILL be getting this into mainstream book stores if they have any sense at all.

66 ACTION COMICS #810 $2.25 DC 29,509
67 WONDER WOMAN #199 $2.25 DC 29,224

Greg Rucka has got me reading Wonder Woman, which is actually kind of rare for me. I don't care for the character (having next to no interest in Greek gods), but his work on it has been readable. I would imagine if you like Wonder Woman, this is really good stuff, but as is, I'm just going to mildly recommend it to Rucka fans.

68 NIGHTWING #88 $2.25 DC 28,976

It sure didn't take long for Devin Grayson to lose me as a reader on this comic. It is a horrid mish mash of locations, plots and supporting characters who I care little about. In her time on the comic, she's stripped away the job Nightwing had and replaced it with...well...nothing, ended the relationship Nightwing and Oracle in a way that just didn't read well and has lost the interest I had in the character.

69 BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #48 $2.75 DC 28,461

As I tried to explain the story of Bane to someone lately, I was amazed at how much crap had been grafted onto the character in just 10 years. He started as a man who was born in a prison, hating the law as much as Batman hated criminals. Now, he might have been Batman's brother, but wasn't, has run a country and been Ras Al Ghul's right hand man. And now we're getting "The Last Bane Story" and it doesn't really resolve anything from when the character was created. This book is pretty much a mess and is getting a new creative team with issue 50.

70 TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #18 $2.95 DRE 28,066
71 MICHAEL TURNER PRESENTS ASPEN #3 (Of 3)* $2.99 ASP 27,864

I thought Michael Turner was a HUGELY HOT ARTIST, and this was his last work on his signature character? I don't care for his work, since all of his female character have the EXACT same face, and you can only tell them apart by their hair and cup size, both of which are painfully unrealistic.

72 BATMAN DEATH & MAIDENS #5 (Of 9) $2.95 DC 27,763

A Greg Rucka written mini-series that I am (wait for it) buying as a trade. Rucka's Batman work is my favorite of the Batman writers over the past 10 years, and brings a wonderful sense of plot and story to the character. Highly recommended.

73 STREET FIGHTER #4* $2.95 IMA 27,606
74 X-STATIX #17 $2.99 MAR 27,000

I love this comic. The current story was supposed to be about Princess Di, but was changed to be about a pop star after complaints. It's pretty easy to tell that they just made a few superficial changes to the art and script. That being said, this is not one of their better story arcs, and while I like the ideas behind the story, the story itself just isn't working. It seems to me like a case of the creators reaching a bit beyond their grasp, which is better than most comics who just try to hack it out for the deadline. Recommended for the ideas, not the execution.

75 STAR WARS INFINITIES RETURN O/T JEDI #1 (Of 4) $2.99 DAR 26,835
76 ADVS O/SUPERMAN #623 $2.25 DC 26,835

I think this is the lowest I have ever seen a Superman book sell. See my Superman comments above.

77 HAWKMAN #22 $2.50 DC 26,779

Geoff Johns is leaving after the JSA crossover, and for once, I think it's a good idea. He did some really great issues in this book, and got me interested in Hawkman for the first time ever, but the last few issues just haven't been up to his old standard, showing he's losing interest in the comic. (January comics are out but figures aren't available yet, so Hawkman DOES get much better during the JSA crossover)

78 Y THE LAST MAN #17 (MR) $2.95 DC 26,697
79 BATGIRL #47 $2.50 DC 26,485
80 FABLES #20 (MR) $2.50 DC 25,640

By this point, if you aren't already buying this comic, I'd buy the trades. An adult (no, not porn, ya bastards) series that uses fairy tale characters in modern style situations and in dark fantasy settings. While the premise is very used, the stories have been interesting and creative. Willingham wrote possibly the best Indy super-hero team book of the 80's in The Elementals, and while this isn't up to those standards, it's still Highly Recommended.

81 AUTHORITY/LOBO CHRISTMAS SP $4.95 DC 25,621

This was just entirely too fun. A VERY sick comic with massive violence, destruction and a dark plot, but if you are mature enough o read it, and are a fan of dark humor, this is probably the best Lobo comic ever. Highly recommended.

82 LEGION #28 $2.50 DC 25,042

Every creative team on the Legion wants to do their own version of the classic "Great Darkness Saga" during their run. This team is doing such a slavish imitation of it that I think they should be paying royalties to the original creative team. In a way, it highlights the difference in creative ability. This story feels like a retread with superficial differences, while Grant Morrison's "Phoenix Story" in New X-Men goes over similar ground, but does it in such a way that it comments on and enhances the original story.

83 BATMAN LEGENDS O/T DARK KNIGHT #174 $2.50 DC 24,794
84 SUPERMAN & BATMAN GENERATIONS III #12 (Of 12) $2.95 DC 24,620

Want to read something funny? Go to John Byrne's message site and just read the opening. Don't worry, I'll wait. Back? Good. This is typical Byrne, and why his work doesn't sell anymore, sloppy art, poor inking, a story that wallows in continuity no one cares about anymore and an ending that doesn't end anything. Byrne has said on his message board that he's a bit upset that DC isn't wanting him to do another of these series. Hey, John, not to rock your work, but YOU are doing a series with Superman and Batman and it sells less than 25,000 copies. The other series with both Superman and Batman in it sells 4 times as many books. Do the math and get back to me, OK?

85 CATWOMAN #26 $2.50 DC 24,601

Gulacy's art is the only thing that has changed on this comic, and while it's flashier and more "photo realistic" I miss the more cartoony style of art before #25, since it fit the flow of the comic better. Still, it's one of the better comics out there, and the last fo the "Crime Noir" Batman books. Highly recommended.

86 GI JOE FRONTLINE #18 $2.95 IMA 24,445
87 AUTHORITY VOL 2 #8 (MR) $2.95 DC 24,114

The new creative team has no clue at all what made Volume One so groundbreaking. I give this comic another 10 issues or so before it's canceled, and rightfully so.

88 HAWKEYE #3 $2.99 MAR 23,545

This is one ugly comic. The art is just horridly overinked, and the story is a mess. I have always liked this character, but I don't think they have gotten the right creative team for him to have an on-going series. Pass.

89 CAPTAIN MARVEL #17 $2.99 MAR 23,526

And the story that started in the PREVIOUS Captain Marvel series about the main character going insane ends with a whimper and not a bang. It just felt tacked on, as if there wasn't a way to explain it that would be interesting. A BIG letdown, since Peter David CAN have big endings to his stories. This one wasn't one.

90 SOJOURN #30 $2.95 CRO 22,901
91 THUNDERCATS HAMMERHANDS REVENGE #3 (Of 5) $2.95 DC 22,874
92 ROSE & THORN #1 (Of 6) $2.95 DC 22,717

DC's second tier heroes SHOULD be introduced this way - as a mini-series to see if there is interest in what the creative team is doing. Then, if there IS interest, introduce a series (or a series of mini-series, like they did with Robin back in the early 90's).

93 AQUAMAN #13 $2.50 DC 22,414
94 ELEKTRA #30 $2.99 MAR 22,368

A decent action series that seems to be dropping any sort of character work in favor of strong plots. Mildly recommended.

95 KINGPIN #7 (Note Price) $2.99 MAR 21,817

Last issue. I'm a bit surprised that Marvel is canceling this book when there are other comics they are still publishing that's sell worse. I didn't read it, since most comics focusing on the bad guy are inherantly limited, and Kingpin himself is not a very interesting character.

96 TEEN TITANS GO #2 $2.25 DC 21,679
97 SPIDER-GIRL #67 $2.99 MAR 21,403

See? This sells worse that Kingpin! I like this comic tho. It's pretty much an 80's comic, told in the same style that comics were told in the 80's, and the lead character (the daughter of Peter Parker in a vague Marvel Future) is fun and well written. This isn't a book I will ever nominate for best comic of the month, but it is an entertaining super-hero soap opera and is mildly recommended.

98 MAGDALENA VOL 2 #4 (Of 4) $2.99 IMA 21,100
99 EMPIRE #6 (Of 6) (MR) $2.50 DC 21,054

Last issue, and a great mini-series. It started under a creator owned series for an imprint that only lasted long enough for one or two comics to be published, then Wait and Kitson brought it to DC. It tells the story of a world where a super-villain has won and has taken over the world. A dark series that was very readable, and leaves the reader wanting to know more. Highly recommended.

100 STAR WARS EMPIRE #13 DARKLIGHTER (4 Of 4) $2.99 DAR 20,843
101 STAR WARS EMPIRE #14 $2.99 DAR 20,769
102 STAR WARS EMPIRE #15 $2.99 DAR 20,576
103 RUNAWAYS #9 $2.99 MAR 20,429

I love this comic. It's a series about a group of teenagers who find out that their parents are super-villains, run away and start discovering that they have powers as well. One of the few books about a "teenage superhero group" that reads like the characters are actually teenagers. Well done and a compulsive read. Highly recommended.

104 STAR WARS REPUBLIC #58 BATTLE O/JABIIM (4 Of 4) $2.99 DAR 20,429
105 BATMAN CITY O/LIGHT #3 (Of 8) $2.95 DC 20,402

I'm a bit amazed that this comic got greenlighted. I like the Pander Brothers's art, but they've never been a big draw, and they have really only had one comic that did well (the first 12 issues of Grendel). This style is very angular, harsh and works for the story they are telling, but isn't for everyone. Recommended with reservations.

106 GHOST I/T SHELL 2 MAN/MACHINE INTERFACE #10 (MR) $3.50 DAR 20,300
107 STAR WARS REPUBLIC #59 ENEMY LINES ONE-SHOT $2.99 DAR 20,126
108 NAMOR #10 $2.99 MAR 19,372

Co-written by the former President of Marvel, and now that he is gone, this book is cancelled. I like that Marvel tried something new with the book, but since it was pretty much Shojo American comics, it wasn't aimed at me.

109 THUNDERCATS ORIGINS HEROES & VILLAINS #1 $3.50 DC 19,262
110 SMAX #4 (Of 5) $2.95 DC 19,216
111 DOCTOR FATE #5 (Of 5) $2.50 DC 19,069

A JSA spinoff that I was mildly interested in, but not enough to seek it out.

112 GHOST I/T SHELL 2 MAN/MACHINE INTERFACE #11 (MR) $3.50 DAR 19,051
113 THUNDERCATS ORIGINS VILLAINS & HEROES #1 $3.50 DC 18,775
114 WITCHBLADE #72 $2.99 IMA 18,674

They have now been hyping that one of the main characters that readers vote on will DIE! I guess it's the only way to try and get interest revived in a comic that people haven't much cared about for a good 5 years now.

115 INHUMANS #8 $2.99 MAR 18,637
116 DARK DAYS #6 30 DAYS O/NIGHT SEQUEL (Of 6) (MR) $3.99 IDW 18,536
117 STAR WARS JEDI DOOKU CLONE WARS SP $4.99 DAR 18,371

Is it just me, or do the Star Wars characters in the new movies all sound like Lucas made up their names while very very drunk?

118 HELLBOY WEIRD TALES #6 $2.99 DAR 18,361
119 EL CAZADOR #4 $2.95 CRO 17,994

CrossGen's pirate comic, and let's face it, while pirates and ninjas are popular on the internet, they have never been huge sellers in comic books. The Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles don't really count because they weren't THAT popular a comic book and Watchmen doesn't count since the pirate story in that comic was just an allegory on the main story that had nothing to do with pirates. But, here is your pirate comic. Now CrossGen needs to do a ninja comic and maybe even a Robot Pirate Ninja comic!

120 SUPERMAN KANSAS SIGHTING #2 $6.95 DC 17,782
121 GOTHAM CENTRAL #14 $2.50 DC 17,635

I love this comic, and most of the other internet reviewers say it is a great comic. That must be why it doesn't sell worth a damn. It is a series set in a police precint in Gotham City, and the current story about the Joker has been a great read and gives a different look at that VERY overused character. Highly recommended.

122 HUMAN TORCH #8 (RES) $2.99 MAR 17,562
123 SENTINEL #10 $2.99 MAR 17,562

Both of these comics are canceled with issue #12, and while I liked the Human Torch comic, it wasn't ever really good enough for me to recommend it beyond the people who have an affinity to that character. Sentinal was so derivitive of "Iron Giant" I was amazed at the good reviews it got. I didn't care for it because of it's unoriginality. Still, two more casualties, and the creators can't say that Marvel didn't give them a decent push, since they got good advertising and such.

124 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE OFFICIAL GUIDE #8 $5.25 DRE 17,479
125 TALES O/T VAMPIRES #1 $2.99 DAR 17,332

So, this is a comic created and written by Joss Whedon, set in the Buffy the Vanmpire Slayer universe, and it sells this poorly? I think there are three reasons. First, Dark Horse did a crappy job of promoting it. Second, anyone with half a brain knows it will be collected in a trade paperback. And last, the Buffy comic was so bad at the end that most fans would be hard pressed to try another comic based on that series.

126 TOM STRONG #24 $2.95 DC 17,213
127 PROMETHEA #28 $2.95 DC 17,112

Both of these are great comics, in vastly different ways. Promoethia is moving toward its series climax, and this issue was a sheer joy to read, even if you haven't read any other issues. Tom Strong is the perfect pulp adventure, with enough creativity and new ideas to keep a head spinning, but it still has great action oriented story. ALL of the ABC comics are Highly recommended.

128 100 BULLETS #48 (MR) $2.50 DC 16,946
129 TOMB RAIDER TAKEOVER ONE-SHOT $2.99 IMA 16,891
130 BRIAN PULIDO LADY DEATH #10 $2.95 CRO 16,404
131 HELLBLAZER #191 (MR) $2.75 DC 15,283

It is official. After a series of bad creative teams and an overall lack of direction, I have lost all interest in what was at one point one of my favorite comics. So long, John. Write when someone who knows how to tell your stories comes around. Thanks.

132 RED #3 (Of 3) $2.95 DC 15,007
133 ETERNAL #6 (MR) $2.99 MAR 14,943

Last issue? Does anyone care?

134 HERO #11 $2.50 DC 14,814

A book that should be getting more attention, and I should have given it more attention when it came out. The premise is the same as the series Dial H For Hero in the 60's where a strange dial gives its owners random super-powers. Only this series used that premise for stories that vary in style and temperment, from revenge dramas to Hollywood Satire to flat out super-hero comedy. A refreshingly original treatment of the super-hero genre and highly recommended.

135 TERRA OBSCURA #6 (Of 6) (Note Price) $3.95 DC 14,796
136 JOHN CARPENTERS SNAKE PLISSKEN #3* $2.99 HUR 14,777
137 RUSE #26 $2.95 CRO 14,704
138 WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #17 (MR) $2.95 DC 13,822
139 TMNT ANIMATED #7 $2.95 DRE 13,721

Last issue, and I still don't see why they did a "grim and gritty" version of the kids cartoon, when the original comic book series was grim and gritty until it was turned into a kids cartoon. Why not just do a new version of the original comic? Oh, wait, they are and no one gives a damn about that either.

140 SHONEN JUMP VOL 2 #1 JAN 2004 $4.95 VIZ 13,426

Still selling 600K+ in newsstands and through subscriptions. For those who say comics are dead, you're wrong, just the niche stuff that the main companies in the US have been selling to hard core fans is dead. This series, and the huge sales that Shojo manga are getting in mainstream bookstores proves to me what I have been saying for over 15 years: Kids want to read comics, but they have to be comics that people who have never read a comic in their live would WANT to read.

141 LUCIFER #45 (MR) $2.50 DC 13,353
142 CREW #7 $2.99 MAR 13,353

Last issue, and I don't think anyone other than the creators will really miss the book. With Marvel's "We don't give information about upcoming comics" idea in place, no one really knew what this comic would be about, and without a compelling reason to buy it, why would anyone?

143 SUPERMAN METROPOLIS #11 (Of 12) $2.95 DC 13,316
144 FALLEN ANGEL #6 (MR) $2.50 DC 13,077

Peter David's DC series, and I like it. It's not as "in jokey" as his other work, and has an interesting setting and cast of characters in a very morally ambiguous setting with great art. It's odd that it isn't selling very well, since it's prolly his best comics work in a quite a long time.

145 SIMPSONS COMICS #89 $2.99 BON 12,912

Always a lot of fun, and mostly better than the TV series any more. Highly recommended.

146 BATMAN ADVS #9 $2.25 DC 12,884
147 MOTU HE-MAN RISE O/SNAKE MEN #3 (Of 3) $2.95 MVC 12,875
148 JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVS #26 $2.25 DC 12,627

This is not as good as it should be. With The Justice League cartoon doing OK on Cartoon Network, this should be a comic where DC puts some solid talent who do stories that appeal to people who are curious about comics. Instead, it is becoming a place for try outs, people who are fishing for jobs and people who can get work in quickly, rather than a place for solid talent who can tell stories that get people interested in buying more comics.

149 FRANK MILLERS ROBOCOP #4 (Of 9) (MR)* $3.50 AVA 12,544
150 WAY O/T RAT #20 $2.95 CRO 12,452
151 BRATH #10 $2.95 CRO 12,425
152 GEN 13 #16 $2.95 DC 12,406

Last issue, and in it, Claremont pretty much undid what was done at the end of the last Gen 13 series and brought all of the original characters back from the dead. I don't think there is any need to bring the characters back, since they only worked twice, IMHO. When J. Scott Campbell was drawing them and when Adam Warren was writing them. The rest of the time, this was a pretty generic super-hero soap opera series without any decent villains. Claremont's run on the comic just highlighted how unsuited he was to work on the book, and the 13 cent first issue didn't grab anyone and make them think that this was a series that would be worth reading.

153 MOTU SEASON 1 ENCYCLOPEDIA #1 $2.95 MVC 12,388
154 LOSERS #7 (MR) $2.95 DC 12,360
155 CRIMSON DYNAMO #4 $2.50 MAR 12,305

I would imagine that sales of this comic are why the Epic line didn't go into production. The writer has since gotten a gig on Iron Man, and seems to be doing OK there, which means that Epic could have been a training ground for new talent. The problem is, who would be the people the new talent are selling to?

156 SCION #42 $2.95 CRO 12,296
157 SHREK #2 (Of 3) $2.99 DAR 11,414
158 NEGATION #25 $2.95 CRO 11,313
159 CAPER #3 (Of 12) (MR) $2.95 DC 11,239
160 STRANGERS IN PARADISE VOL III #61 $2.95 ABS 11,212
161 BART SIMPSON COMICS #15 $2.99 BON 11,083

As much as I like the Simpsons comic, I don't much care for this one. The stories are usually a step down from the TV show, and they put Bart into situation that don't really work. IN a way, this is what I expect when I pick up a TV adaptation in comics form, a pale copy of the show.

162 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #3 (Of 5) (MR) $2.95 MVC 11,055

I like this comic, as it is written as an old horror comic from the 50's (or a Warren mag from the 60's) with a host who tells bad jokes, twist endings and the like. The art is pretty good, and the stories are retreads of other old horror stories, but there is a huge lack of horror comics out there, and this is a competent one. Mildly recommended for horror fans.

163 PATH #21 $2.95 CRO 10,964
164 STORMWATCH TEAM ACHILLES #18 (MR) $2.95 DC 10,964
165 HUMAN TARGET #5 (MR) $2.95 DC 10,945
166 VERTICAL (MR) $4.95 DC 10,752

This comic has a "gimmick" (it was half the width of a regualr comic) and some snazzy art by Mike Allred, but read like more of a trifle than a story. It was set in a romanticized version of the 60's, and because of the "post ironic detachment" they were going for, the characters never really jelled for me. It was just too bland for me to recommend.

167 DEMON DRIVEN OUT #4 (Of 6) $2.50 DC 10,725
168 MERIDIAN #41 $2.95 CRO 10,596
169 MYSTIC #43 $2.95 CRO 10,568
170 MASKS TOO HOT FOR TV (MR) $4.95 DC 10,541
171 SHREK #3 (Of 3) $2.99 DAR 10,320 172 DUEL MASTERS #2 $2.95 DRE 10,247
173 MERIDIAN #42 $2.95 CRO 10,219
174 MARVELOUS ADVS O/GUS BEEZER GUS BEEZER & SPIDER-MAN $2.99 MAR 10,081

It's too bad this comic doesn't sell when it comes out, because it is the best humor comic Marvel has done in a LONG time. Gus Beezer reads like a real kid who is a bit hyper, very creative and worth a few stories. It's not like any other comic on the stands, and is one of the few humor comics that is actually funny. Highly recommended.

175 CURSED #3 (Of 4) $2.99 IMA 9,916
176 CRUX #33 $2.95 CRO 9,879
177 ROUTE 666 #19 $2.95 CRO 9,796
178 CSI BAD RAP #4 (Of 5) (MR) $3.99 IDW 9,769
179 MEGAMAN #4 $2.95 DRE 9,750
180 PLASTIC MAN LOST ANNUAL #1 $6.95 DC 9,649

This was more of a lost opportunity than a lost annual. Jack Cole's Plastic Man was one o the most inspired comics series in the medium's history, and after a couple rough issues at the very beginning of the run, the series is just as funny and readable today as it was in 1940. The same cannot be said for DC's tepid revival in the 60's, which art by Gil Kane (who is NOT known for his humor) and the standard DC writers of the time. It means that this is HALF a good comic, with two great Plastic Man stories from the 40's and two lame stories from the 60's that I couldn't force myself through. I know this was to support the first issue of Kyle Baker's Plastic Man, but I wish the contents could have been chosen with a little more care.

181 BATTLE OF THE PLANETS MANGA #3 (Of 3) $2.99 IMA 9,576

Manga of a series that no one much cared about when they did a dark gritty version last year. I would say that no one cares about this series either, and with Image doing it as a regular 32 page comic, it's not going to sell to manga fans who prefer the book format by far. AND it's licensed manga from the mid 70's, so even if you ARE interested in the subject matter, the art and story are pretty boring.

182 STAR WARS TALES #18* $5.99 DAR 9,309

Out of all the Star Wars comics, this is the only one I like. It has short stories using different characters from the movies, sometimes written and drawn by creators who haven't done Star Wars before. For Star Wars fans, this is really the only comic series that would appeal to the casual fan who only knows the movies.

183 FRANKENSTEIN MOBSTER #1* $2.95 IMA 9,015
184 GOON #4 DH ED $2.99 DAR 8,969
185 VAMPI VICIOUS #3* $2.99 HAR 8,868
186 CASEFILES SAM & TWITCH #6 (MR) $2.50 IMA 8,758

I wish the people would realize that there is a different between the highly stylized and impressionistic work of people like David Mack and Brian Bendis and sloppy art and obscure storytelling like this comic. There may be a good story here, but I'll

187 PVP #5 $2.95 IMA 8,253
188 WAKE THE DEAD #2 (Of 5) (MR) $3.99 IDW 8,197

Yes, finally a comic based on the game at the end of the first Addams Family movie. And does it make me a sick bastard to say that I ALWAYS knew that Wednesday would grow up to be an amazing hottie?

189 DARKMINDS MACROPOLIS VOL 2 #3 $2.95 DRE 8,179

Oddly enough, I remember when this comic was amazingly hot and the creators did a "Punisher/Wolverine" mini-series. Now it's down here and I doubt if anyone really misses it.

190 VICTORY #3* $2.95 IMA 8,142
191 REIGN O/T ZODIAC #5 $2.75 DC 7,765
192 ALAN MOORES YUGGOTH CULTURES #3 (Of 3) (MR)* $3.95 AVA 7,637
193 WILDGUARD CASTING CALL #4 (Of 6)* $2.95 IMA 7,591
194 PHANTOM #1 $3.50 MNS 7,379
195 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #131 $2.19 ARC 7,288

The best selling Archie comic (and I hear it's their best selling on newssatnds as well), which shows that kids will buy something if it is done well enough. This comic doesn't do anything for me, but since I'm a bit older than the target audience, it's not that big a deal.

196 WALKING DEAD #3 $2.95 IMA 6,994
197 POWERPUFF GIRLS #45 $2.25 DC 6,819
198 KAMIKAZE #3 (Of 5) $2.95 DC 6,653
199 BAD GIRLS #5 (Of 6) $2.50 DC 6,589

Canceled an issue before ending, which has to suck for the creators. I didn't read this comic, since it wasn't a story that interested me. Guess I'm not the only one that felt the same way.

200 SPACE ACE DEFENDER O/T UNIVERSE #3 (Of 6) $2.95 MVC 6,562

A comic based on a 20 year old video game doesn't sell very well. Who would have guess? ANYONE WITH HALF A BRAIN.

201 KNIGHTS O/T DINNER TABLE #86 $3.99 KZR 6,304

LOVE THIS COMIC!! It's the story of a group of role playing gamers, and if you have ever played or known anyone who has played Dungeons and Dragons, this comic will make you laugh. It also has articles about gaming, reviews and the like, so you get 100 pages for only $4, with VERY few ads...so it's not only one of the most entertaining comics around, it's one of the best bargains. Highly recommended.

202 REX MUNDI #7 $2.95 IMA 6,277
203 NOBLE CAUSES DISTANT RELATIVES #4 (Of 4) $2.95 IMA 6,258

I buy this as trade paperbacks, and it's a solidly entertaining super-hero book told from a different perspective. With all the good press it gets, you'd think it would sell better, but for some reason, people just don't seem to be interested. Silly people. You all should get smacked upside the head.

204 LORE #1 (MR) $5.99 IDW 6,258
205 DONALD DUCK & FRIENDS #311 $2.95 GEM 6,194
206 CEREBUS #297 $2.25 AAR 6,194

3 issues to go. Even if Dave Sim has become a cranky old coot who thinks all women are evil, doing 300 issues of a comic on his own is an amazing achievement, and the work itself is quite good. No one does lettering effects as well as Sim, his layout is masterful and his figure drawing is some of the best in comics. Even if you disagree with him on EVERYTHING, the first 5 trade paperbacks are worth reading.

207 QUEEN & COUNTRY #22 (MR) $2.99 ONI 6,139
208 INVINCIBLE #7 $2.95 IMA 6,093
209 UNCLE SCROOGE #325 $6.95 GEM 6,056
210 HAMMER O/T GODS HAMMER HITS CHINA #3 (Of 3) $2.95 IMA 6,019
211 OH MY GODDESS #104 DR MOREAU (5 Of 5) $3.50 DAR 5,983
212 MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #260 $2.95 GEM 5,937
213 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #13 $2.95 MIR 5,826

The original publisher trying to bring back the comic the way it was in the 80's...too bad that after the first 8 or so issues, the comic was utterly unreadable.

214 ICANDY #4 $2.50 DC 5,817

At this point, you have to wonder why DC is still publishing this.

215 BLADE O/T IMMORTAL #85 MIRROR O/T SOUL (1 Of 3) $2.99 DAR 5,753
216 SCOOBY DOO #79 $2.25 DC 5,716
217 GRENDEL GOD & DEVIL #10 (Of 10) (MR) (Note Price) $4.99 DAR 5,707

Not bad saleswise for a reprint. They HAVE to reprint the Grendel comics as regualr comics before putting them in trades to offset the cost incurred by Comico losing the film of this series, and it is probably the best comic series of the 80's. If you haven't read these yet, pick up the trades and get caught up, as this is where a LOT of the new comics format ideas came from (like different artists for each story arc, taking a concept instead of a single character, etc...).

218 SWORD O/DRACULA #2 $2.95 IMA 5,652
219 MYTHSTALKERS #6 $2.95 IMA 5,496
220 ULTRAMAN TIGA #4 (Of 10) $3.99 DAR 5,404
221 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #640 $6.95 GEM 5,284
222 CINNAMON EL CICLO #5 (Of 5) $2.50 DC 5,165

The last issue, and with sales this low, we should be happy that DC decided to finish out the mini-series. It's too bad that westerns do so poorly anymore, as it seems that the creators KNOW they have to win an audience and put out better stories because of that. Highly recommended, and I would suggest you get the single issues, as with sales this low, there won't be a collected trade anytime soon.

223 FEATHER #3 (Of 6) $2.95 IMA 5,008
224 SOMETHING WICKED #2 (Of 4) (MR)* $2.95 IMA 4,944
225 CLOUDFALL #1 $4.95 IMA 4,825
226 POISON ELVES #75 $2.95 SIR 4,705
227 HATE ANNUAL #4 (MR) $4.95 FAN 4,540

Every year, when I get a new issue of this comic, it reminds me of how much I miss Peter Bagge's cruel sense of humor and how he goes for the jugular with each story. This issue is no different, and is the last gasp of the old "underground comics" style of storytelling. It's not for everyone, but if you like the art and the humor, there isn't much better than a new issue of Hate. Highly recommended.

228 COURTNEY CRUMRIN I/T TWILIGHT KINGDOM #1 (Of 4) $2.99 ONI 4,402
229 WYNONNA EARP HOME O/T STRANGE #1 (Of 5) $3.99 IDW 4,310

After Beau Smith goes on and on about how this is a "real man's comic", it's actually a pretty standard action comic with nothing to justify the price. You can pass on this and not miss a damn thing.

230 CANNON GOD EXAXXION #20 (MR) $2.99 DAR 4,191
231 HULK UNCHAINED #1 (Of 3) (PU#598) $2.99 MAR 4,181
232 HULK GAMMA GAMES #1 (Of 3) (PU#598) $2.99 MAR 4,163
233 CAPES #3 (Of 3) $3.50 IMA 4,163
234 TERMINATOR 3 FRAGMENTED #6 (MR) $5.95 BEC 4,108

Beckett is trying to get into comics, but I think they have their formats all messed up. This 6 issue mini-series would cost you $36 to get a complete story, and it's definitely not worth that much money. Their other series in the same format has Great David Mack covers, no real clue as to what it is about and sells for $3 an issue. If they are publishing any comics by summer, I'll be surprised.

235 DAVID & GOLIATH #2 $2.95 IMA 4,108
236 CRUSH #2 $2.99 DAR 4,034
237 BATMAN #621 $2.25 DC 3,970
238 EL CAZADOR COLL ED (PU#596) $5.95 CRO 3,823

Reprinting the first three issues of CrossGen's new pirate comic. Sadly, it's by Chuck Dixon, so it's so formulaic that it's hard to read it as a pirate comics...it is written in the exact same way as all of his other books and comes off as painfully bland.

239 GOLD DIGGER #48 $2.99 ANT 3,814
240 BEAR #3 $2.95 SLG 3,685
241 AMAZING SCREW-ON HEAD $2.99 DAR 3,593

Re-orders of a very fun comic by Mike Mignola from last year. No, I won't tell you anything about it, other than Mike Mignola has a WONDERFUL time drawing this very odd story, and it is highly recommended.

242 SHADOWS #4 $2.95 IMA 3,584
243 LOONEY TUNES #109 $2.25 DC 3,465
244 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS WHERE SHADOWS FALL #3 (Of 5) $3.50 KZR 3,327
245 CAVEWOMAN MOVIE ONE-SHOT $3.25 AMR 3,171

Oh for the love of all that's holy, why don't they just call it "big titty comics"? This comic annoys me to no end, since it tends to advertise itself as female friendly, but the main character's breasts are impossibly huge, and the art is nothing but breast and ass shots.

246 DEMO #2 (Of 12) (MR) $2.95 AIT 3,115
247 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #3 $2.95 DC 3,097
248 GLOOMCOOKIE #18 (MR) $2.95 SLG 3,060

My favorite independent comic, as it is an urban fantasy that deals with goth subculture, horror movie themes and other odd things that shouldn't fit together but does. The art has taken a big step forward in the last few months, and the story is easily grapsed while still beign deep and meaningful. Highly recommended.

249 BLOKHEDZ #1 (Of 4) (MR) $2.95 STR 3,033
250 NIGHTMARES & FAIRY TALES #7 $2.95 SLG 2,978

This is one of the few comics I look forward to as it comes out. Written by the writer of Gloomcookie, it tells Fairy Tales as horror stories, giving them updated twists and delves into the inner meaning of these tales we have known since we were children. This issue was not based on an actual fairy tale, but instead gives some background on the narrator, and reads like a very well done Warren Horror story from the 60's. Highly recommended for horror fans.

251 ARCHIE #543 $2.19 ARC 2,959
252 HEROES ANONYMOUS #3 (Of 6) (MR) $2.99 BON 2,895

I SO wanted to like this comic, the story of a "super hero therapy group", because it has so much potential, but the stories just don't grab me. The characters aren't interesting enough, the art is bland and there isn't enough to keep me interested as I read it.

253 ARCHIE #544 $2.19 ARC 2,858
254 JOE LANSDALES DRIVE-IN #2 (Of 4) (MR) $3.50 AVA 2,840
255 PARADIGM #12 (Note Price) $3.95 IMA 2,702
256 NODWICK #23 $2.99 DOR 2,702
257 BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #64 $2.19 ARC 2,674

I don't know that there is much about Betty and Veronica that is spectacular. Now Cheryl Blossum...she's pretty damn Spectactular.

258 JLA/AVENGERS #3 (OF 4) $5.95 MAR 2,665
259 ARTESIA AFIRE #5 (Of 6) (MR) $3.95 ARC 2,656
260 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE ILLUSTRATED #29 $2.99 KZR 2,638

While I LOVE Knights of the Dinner Table, I don't much care for this comic which tells the stories of the characters the people in KODT play. It's probably the most "fan based" comic being published, so it's for the hard core fans of KOTD.

261 LOVE FIGHTS #6 (MR) $2.99 ONI 2,573

I love pie, does that mean there will be a comic called "Love Pie" for me at some point?

262 BETTY & VERONICA #196 $2.19 ARC 2,555
263 SABRINA VOL 2 #53 $2.19 ARC 2,527
264 DRAKE DEMON BOX #1 (Of 3) $2.50 IFX 2,509
265 CARTOON CARTOONS #25 $2.25 DC 2,500
266 BETTY #133 $2.19 ARC 2,481
267 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #78 $2.19 ARC 2,435
268 METAL HURLANT #9 (MR) $3.95 HUM 2,408

Oddly, one of the better values in comics, as it publishes 100 pages of comics for $4, but it's mostly done in the European style, which I have never much cared for. I must be one of the few serious comics fans who just dislikes the art style of Euro-comics, and the stories seem to be nearly non-existant.

269 VERONICA #147 $2.19 ARC 2,408
270 STREET FIGHTER CHEN CVR #4 (Net) $5.00 IMA 2,389
271 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #148 $3.59 ARC 2,371
272 VERONICA #148 $2.19 ARC 2,297
273 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #100 $3.59 ARC 2,150
274 STREET FIGHTER #3* $2.95 IMA 2,141

Not bad for a comic based on a game that hasn't had a decent new installment in a decade. Not that I think there is enough story in the game for a decent comic to be made. Didn't the horrible movie kill this thing?

275 TEENAGERS FROM MARS #8 (Of 8) (MR) (Note Price) $3.99 TFM 2,114
276 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #81 $3.59 ARC 2,104
277 TEEN TITANS #5 $2.50 DC 2,086
278 ARCHIE DIGEST #204 $2.39 ARC 2,068
279 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #144 $2.39 ARC 2,059
280 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #111 $3.50 ANT 2,049

The fact that this comic is still being published is kind of amazing to me. When it started almost 10 years ago, not a lot of people knew very much about anime, and the few who did, didn't much care for Americanized version of it. But, Antarctic Press was able to put together enough fans that they have been able to keep it going and publish a lot of stuff for the same kind of fans. I don't think I've ever read an entire issue, but you have to admire a comic that lasts this long through all the market problems over the past 10 years.

281 USAGI YOJIMBO #71 $2.99 DAR 2,040
282 CAVEWOMAN MERIEMS GALLERY #3 (MR) $2.95 AMR 2,031
283 JUGHEAD #155 $2.19 ARC 2,022
284 KNIGHTS O/T DINNER TABLE #87 $3.99 KZR 2,003

I don't quite understand why issue #86 is at #200 and this one is down here, but there are a few odd things like this on the sales charts. Its an odd month. And this comic is highly recommended.

285 CHIMNEY 25 $3.95 SLG 1,911
286 QUEEN & COUNTRY #21 (MR) $2.99 ONI 1,875
287 MINCE #1 (MR) $2.99 NEK 1,838

I think I could make about 100 jokes about mincing, but the only thing that comes to my head as I write reviews is:Who the hell is the audience for a comic with this title?

288 LAUGH DIGEST #189 $2.39 ARC 1,838
289 GENUS #62 (A) $3.50 RAD 1,801
290 CEREBUS #298 $2.25 AAR 1,801
291 TEEN TITANS GO #1 $2.25 DC 1,792
292 JUGHEAD W/ARCHIE DIGEST #189 $2.39 ARC 1,728
293 NEOTOPIA VOL 2 #5 (Of 6) $2.99 ANT 1,682
294 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #2 $2.95 DC 1,645

Most of the stuff down here are re-orders or porn. This is a re-order for DC's biggest hit series in quite some time, and as I have said elsewhere, the fact that there is so much excitement by fans for this comic shows me that there is a LOT of pent up demand for a Superman comic that is good.

295 JACK STAFF #12 (RES) $3.50 DEP 1,599
296 HOUSEWIVES A/PLAY #11 (A) $4.95 ERO 1,581
297 YOUNG WITCHES VOL 5 LEGACY #6 (A) $3.95 ERO 1,562
298 DUEL MASTERS #1* $2.95 DRE 1,553
299 RUULE GANGLORDS O/CHINATOWN #2 $2.99 BEC 1,535
300 BATMAN/SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN TRINITY #3 $6.95 DC 1,498

I make mention of the lowest selling comic every month, not to mock it...ok, sometimes to mock it, but mostly because it's an indicator of how well comics are doing overall. In 200, at the bottom of the slump, #300 was selling around 800 copies, which means that overall sales were pretty damn low. Now, they are getting better, and overall comics sales are up, but having the #300 comic being a re-order and only selling 1500 is still not a time to rejoice when comics were selling roughly 10 times this many copies ten years ago.

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