The Top 300 Selling Comic Books for January 2003
This list comes from digging through sales figures, asking too many questions and using Diamond Comics information. The snotty comments in white are mine.
1 BATMAN #611 $2.25
DC 120,042
Like I said last month, I don't care for Jim Lee's art, which puts me officially out of the loop on this book.
2 ULTIMATE WAR #3 (Of 4) $2.25
MAR 106,417
And I don't care for the writer on this book. So I'm pretty much hosed on the two best selling books, and I would feel very out of the loop, until I remember that those gawdawful Wolverine issues by Larry Hama and Mark Silvestri were once number one comics, and now no one admits to remembering them. These will be the same.
3 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #34 $2.25
MAR 93,789
4 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #35 $2.25
MAR 93,477
Brian Bendis, you magnificent bastard. I am just amazed that he is able to do a story about a new version of Venom that I want to read. Venom is one of those characters that was mildly interesting, got driven into the ground and I never EVER wanted to see the character again. Highly recommended for super-hero fans.
5 NEW X-MEN #136 $2.25
MAR 93,453
It's Grant Morrison. I won't say anything wrong about his work, since he has yet to disappoint me, and this issue is no exception. An action filled story about an uprising at the X-Men's school that starts small but is growing into one fo the best stories during his run. Highly recommended.
6 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #49 $2.25
MAR 90,032
Still running late (#47 came out at the end of December), but if the quality level remains the same it will be a well done, but not great, Spider-Man story. Mildly recommended for super-hero buffs.
7 ULTIMATE X-MEN #27 $2.25
MAR 84,594
8 ULTIMATE X-MEN #28 $2.25
MAR 84,414
Starting a new 7 part story. That just seems like a trade paperback on a serialized schedule, so buy accordingly. I dislike the art so much I just don't read the book anymore.
9 UNCANNY X-MEN #417 $2.25
MAR 83,921
10 UNCANNY X-MEN #418 $2.25
MAR 83,657
I never thought I would see the day when the longest running X-Men book is selling less that 84,000 copies in comic shops. I am enjoying the series under Austin, and feel he's putting together a good action adventure comic. The manga art is annoying older fans, but if you look at what is selling OUTSIDE comic shops, it is becoming the art style that kids like...probably because it moves the story forward instead of just making cool pinup pictures. Mildly recommended for Super-Hero fans.
11 TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #7* $2.95
DRE 68,532
Don't know. Don't care. It's a damn toy ad.
12 ULTIMATE DAREDEVIL & ELEKTRA
#4 (Of 4) $2.25 MAR 66,107
Already out as a trade paperback as I write this, so I don't see any reason at all to buy it as a comic book. A good story, but it left me wanting more in a bad way. It was a retelling of the Daredevil/Elektra story by Miller, and it made it a little less believable to try and make it less continuity dependent. Still, it worked as a graphic novel and probably would be a lot better if I had not read the Miller stories way back when.
13 DAREDEVIL #42 $2.99
MAR 62,770
Out of the Bendis stuff I read, his Daredevil is the one that I like a tiny bit less than the others. Maybe it's because of a rough art style, or maybe it's because plot threads start and then tend to trail off into the next story. Still, a lesser story by Bendis is still better than 90% of what is on the stands, and this book is Highly Recommended.
14 WOLVERINE #185 $2.25
MAR 62,218
15 X-TREME X-MEN #20 $2.99
MAR 60,525
Oddly enough, a new launch point for the series, and one issue in, I'm already confused. Claremont mis-uses the Grant Morrison characters, gives us a fight scene that confuses the story more than helps it, and we spend time with characters who have a LOT of dialogue but seem to impart no actual character. I tried. Really, I did, but I just think this book shows why Claremont's style has become a joke.
16 JLA #77 $2.25 DC
60,405
Not out yet, but even if it was, I am rapidly losing interest in this comic because of the bland stories. The big "Return of Aquaman" felt like a waste of paper, and the issue that gave us a new team didn't have a single interesting sequence.
17 TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN #4
$2.95 DRE 59,253
18 AVENGERS #63 $2.25
MAR 55,447
His first storyline was a misfire on a LOT of levels, but Geoff Johns showed in a nice transition issue that he does have a good grasp of the characters in what should be Marvel's flagship book. Hopefully he can bring this series up to the level it was under Busiek and Perez, because it's been a while since I was excited to read the Avengers. Mildly recommended with rising expectations.
19 CAPTAIN AMERICA #8 $2.99
MAR 54,955
20 TRUTH #3 (Of 6) $3.50
MAR 53,431
21 GREEN ARROW #21 $2.50
DC 52,554
A very well written romp through the history of the character without seeming like it's wallowing in nostalgia. While the first parts of the story seemed a bit random and unconnected, it seems to be pulling together now, which means once again that it will read much better as a collected book than individual issues. So, I'll reserve judgement until the story is complete, but so far, it's mildly recommended.
22 HULK/WOLVERINE 6 HOURS #1 (Of 4)
$2.99 MAR 51,498
23 SPIDER-MAN PETER PARKER #52
$2.25 MAR 49,589
I thought this was being cancelled and started over with a new number 1 issue, but the art on the issues since #50 has been bad, and the stories have been worse. Avoid this one.
24 FANTASTIC FOUR #65 $2.25
MAR 49,133
A nice, solid, entertaining comic book story. One thing about Mark Waid is that he can tell a solid story without resorting to a lot of Shock tactics. I would say this is an average comic, but if all comics were this well-done, I'd be buying even more books. Highly recommended to super hero fans.
25 MASTERS O/T UNIVERSE #3* $2.95
IMA 49,013
26 GI JOE #14 $2.95
IMA 48,929
I so don't care about these 80's toys tie-in comics. It annoys me that they were pushed as the "saviors of the comics industry", when all they are is a nostalgia wallow for guys in their early 30's. Comics need NEW readers, not a wank off the fans who are already around.
27 HULK/WOLVERINE 6 HOURS #2 (Of 4)
$2.99 MAR 48,653
28 INCREDIBLE HULK #49 $2.25
MAR 48,089
Normally I feel this is one of Marvel's better books, with a dark, horror edge to the concept of The Hulk, but this issue ends most of the plots that have been running since Bruce Jones took over, and it just didn't feel that well done. Rushed, that's the word for it, and a lot of very confusing sections weren't explained clearly. Skip this issue and start with #50, which looks to be a start of a new story.
29 THOR #58 $2.25
MAR 42,663
Tying in to three other books, so I picked it up for the first time in years. If this issue is indictive of how it's been, I haven't missed much.
30 PUNISHER #21 $2.99
MAR 41,607
Highly recommended for those who like dark, violent humor.
31 IRON MAN #64 $2.25
MAR 41,306
Mike Grell isn't the writer on the series soon, which is too bad, since I have really liked his work on the comic, but struggled with the art. Once again, I seem to be in the minority. Oh well. I liked it.
32 GI JOE FRONTLINE #4 $2.95
IMA 41,042
33 JSA #44 $2.50 DC
40,178
DC's best super-hero team book, and highly recommended as it starts a new storyline that will last until issue #50. The series is best known for it's Big storylines, but I like the fact that it is one of the few comics to understand the power of the "cliffhanger" ending, giving the reader a shock on the last page that makes it so they HAVE to read the next issue. Highly recommended for super-hero fans.
34 DETECTIVE COMICS #778 $2.75
DC 38,293
Since Greg Rucka has left, I have slowly lost interest in this series. I wish it would have remained a gritty crime-drama of a book, but now it's a mix between crime and super-heroics that isn't working.
35 GREEN LANTERN #158 $2.25
DC 37,033
36 SPAWN #130 $2.50
IMA 36,937
Issue #121 just came out. Rumors are that the book is selling much, much lower than these numbers, since it has to be resolisted when it actually ships, knocking it down by as much as 10,000 a month. Wouldn't surprise me either, since the comic hasn't even been readable for its fans in years.
37 ROBOTECH #2 (Of 6) $2.95
DC 36,589
38 AQUAMAN #2 $2.50
DC 36,505
39 EXILES #21 $2.25
MAR 36,109
I haven't cared for Winnick's other super-hero work, since he doesn't seem to be able to deliver the action sequences in an interesting way, but on this comic, the interpersonal stuff really shines, and the premice of a team of characters from different alternate realities jumping from one reality to another, fixing things that had gone wrong, works for me. The current story seems to ramp up the drama and still manages to entertain. Highly recommended for long time comics fans, but not really recommended for new readers.
40 X-MEN UNLIMITED #41 $3.50
MAR 35,809
41 X-STATIX #7 $2.25
MAR 33,792
The New York Times says it's one the best comics being printed, and for once, they are right. Highly recommended and why the hell aren't you buying this pop masterpiece?
42 DAREDEVIL MOVIE OFFICIAL COMIC
BOOK ADAPTATION $3.50 MAR 33,012
Seeing the movie is about the same cost if you go to a matinee, but if you read the comic adaptation you can see the major flaws in the screenplay. Your choice.
43 WEAPON X #5 $2.25
MAR 31,811
44 ACTION COMICS #799 $2.25
DC 31,727
For the first time in a long time, this comic is outselling the other Superman comics. Not unlike the other Superman comics, however, it's bland and boring.
45 BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #37 $2.75
DC 31,487
Thank goodness they dropped the horrible subplot that Bane could have been Batman's brother from another mother. Too bad the story didn't improve from there.
46 SUPERMAN & BATMAN
GENERATIONS III #1 (Of 12) $2.95 DC 30,875
I used to like John Byrne's work a lot. His stories in the 80's and early 90's were some of the most entertaining mainstream comics being put out. But over the last 5 years, his art has relied more on stock poses and simplified figures, his stories have been almost insulting in how they treat the reader like an idiot, and his work is more irritating than entertaining because he could do so much better. His last series, "Lab Rats" was a sad photocopy of his Next Men series, and this is a third dip in a well that wasn't very good the second time he drew from it.
47 HAWKMAN #11 $2.50
DC 30,731
The only Hawkman series I have ever really liked because the character actually seems interesting for the first time ever. Mildy recommended for hard core super-hero fans.
48 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #612
$2.25 DC 30,707
49 BATGIRL #36 $2.50
DC 30,431
50 SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL #134 (Note
Price) $2.75 DC 30,431
Last issue, and while it tried to be a Big Deal, it shows why the Superman books are laungishing. A confusing half baked story poorly served by confusingly laid out art.
51 CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 $2.25
MAR 30,143
All sorts of rumors around this comic, with harsh words on both Marvel's side and Peter David's side. Oddly enough, neither of the issues that started the debate are being addressed. The price is going up (which PAD was upset about) and the comic is once again becoming so inwardly focused that new readers will be confused (Marvel's concern). For Peter David fans and a few hard core Marvel fans, I guess.
52 AGENT X #7 $2.25
MAR 29,422
53 NIGHTWING #77 $2.25
DC 29,278
I like Devin Grayson's work most of the time, but I have grown cold to this series since she started writing it. Hopefully, she's just getting her feet under her, but it's already been over half a year.
54 DARKNESS VOL 2 #2 $2.99
IMA 29,194
55 SUPERMAN VS DARKSEID APOKOLIPS
NOW $2.95 DC 28,834
A tie-in to the last issue of the Man Of Steel series, which was cancelled due to poor sales. Yep, nothing like a spin-off with no promotion spinning out of a cancelled book to set the fans's toes a tappin'.
56 PARADISE X RAGNAROK #1 (Of 2)
$2.99 MAR 28,702
For hard-core fans only. Is this the last part of the many Marvel "X" mini-series?
57 BATGIRL YEAR ONE #2 (Of 9)
$2.95 DC 28,630
58 FLASH #194 $2.25
DC 27,562
The last few issues have been OK, but not great. I love Gorilla Grodd as a villian, however, so if you don't, you probably won't care very much.
59 ELEKTRA #20 $2.99
MAR 27,454
Sadly, a change in art stles from fairly realistic to more impressionistic has hurt what could have been a very good story about Elektra's redemption and becoming an actual hero. If the art was better, it would be highly recommended, but as is, it's mildly recommended.
60 ALIAS #19 (MR) $2.99
MAR 26,997
61 ALIAS #18 (MR) $2.99
MAR 26,625
I hate to say it, but this is Marvel's best book, and no one under the age of 18 should be reading it. Not because it is porn, but because it has a very complicated main character that belongs in adult fiction. Bendis is doing a series that couldn't have been done at Marvel 10 years ago, and pushes both creative boundaries and reader expectations. This story of a retired super-hero who is now a PI with a shrouded past gets better every month and is highly recommended.
62 POWERS #28 (MR) $2.95
IMA 26,109
Also by that magnificent bastard Bendis, who can't seem to write a bad story. The current story is Big, Shocking and destined to get attention, but still is well done and entertaining. Highly recommended, even i fyou hate super-hero stories.
63 BATMAN LEGENDS O/T DARK KNIGHT #163
$2.50 DC 26,049
64 SPIDER-MAN LEGEND O/T SPIDER
CLAN #4 (Of 5) $2.25 MAR 25,653
Another Manga style comic for the people who like that stuff. I'll buy it as a trade paperback, where Marvel will actually sell almost this many copies in book stores. Hate to let the old skool fanboys know it, but manga trades and the like are what the new readers are buying...and that's where the industry needs to go.
65 BIRDS OF PREY #51 $2.50
DC 25,245
66 JLA/SPECTRE SOUL WAR #1 (Of 2)
$5.95 DC 24,693
These are AMAZING numbers for a $6 book featuring a character whose book has been cancelled due to low sales. Too bad it didn't come out sooner to get some attention for the Spectre comic, but I really think that the way the series was written, it was doomed to fail, saleswise. This should be just as good as the regular book, which I enjoy and most super-hero fans seem to have hated.
67 CATWOMAN #15 $2.50
DC 23,852
The one Batman related book that has kept the gritty crime series tone, which I prefered to the glossy super-hero stuff we're getting on the books now. The Catwoman series is almost the opposite of the previous series, and is highly recommended.
68 TOMB RAIDER #27 $2.99
IMA 23,768
69 WITCHBLADE #62 $2.99
IMA 23,744
Late late late, waiting on some other book that ties into them to be finished. I would think that Image folks would learn that if you are going to do a big crossover, have the parts close to done before loading up on them. But then again, I keep thinking that FOX will put on a show of both quality and class and they give me Joe Millionaire.
70 FANTASTIC FOUR UNSTABLE
MOLECULES #1 (Of 4) $2.99 MAR 23,744
Marvel's hype is that this is a "realistic" retelling of the early days of the Fantastic Four. And, since Marvel puts out collected trade paperbacks of their books about a week after the mini-series is done, I'll jus sit quietly and wait for that day.
71 LEGION #16 $2.50
DC 23,744
At one point, I was a Legion of Super-Heroes fan of epic proportions. Now, I buy it to see if it's ever going to be fun again. Why the hell do I do that? Am I just an idiot? Seriously.
72 SPIDER-GIRL #55 $2.25
MAR 23,564
73 SPIDER-GIRL #56 $2.25
MAR 23,444
In some ways, I can understand why comics fans don't like this book. It's very much like the Marvel comics of the 80's, standard formula stuff that never really wows the reader, but also never makes you think you wasted your money. I still think this would sell better if it were in a mainstream type store instead of comic shops. Mildly recommended for people who thinks comics were better ten years ago.
74 STAR WARS EMPIRE #5 $2.99
DAR 23,276
75 ROBIN #110 $2.25
DC 23,180
I have officially lost all interest that I had in the book under Chuck Dixon. Dixon would string the subplots along for ages, but the action plots made up for the slow pace. Now, the action isn't much fun to read, and the subplots don't do much for me either. Yep, this one is on the chopping block.
76 ULTIMATE ADVENTURES #4 (RES)
$2.25 MAR 23,144
This is the Joe Quesada entry into the "You Decide" challenge, and he's neither writing nor drawing it. And it's pretty much a fanboy wank of a comic, not worth more than a flip through at the shop.
77 WONDER WOMAN #188 (RES) $2.25
DC 23,096
78 WONDER WOMAN #187 (RES) $2.25
DC 23,072
79 SOJOURN #19 $2.95
CRO 22,868
This is the highest ranking CrossGen book, and they should prolly all be pretty proud of doing so. I find the CrossGen books to be kind of generic fantasy with really good art, and I buy them in the two monthly compendiums and think they are fine in that format, but not worth buying at $3 a pop.
80 BOTP/WITCHBLADE #1 $6.99
IMA 22,868
This is Battle of the Planets meeting Witchblade. This is me not giving a damn about either of the books and ignoring it other than pointing out to you that it exists and thinking that it's a waste of paper.
81 BATMAN ALIENS II #2 (Of 3)
$5.95 DC 22,652
Is there anyone the Aliens haven't met? Soon they will be showing up in Riverdale and putting eggs in Reggie's basement. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
82 SUPERGIRL #78 $2.50
DC 22,508
And we find out that the "Supergirl" who has showed up in #75 is the Supergirl from the Old DC universe, and she is going to die in the Crisis on Infinite Earths...yeah, I'm confused too, and the explanationtook up the entire issue. Rule #23 of comics, if you have to spend a whole issue explaining a story, the story is fan fiction and not worth reading. Thanks.
83 YOUNG JUSTICE #53 $2.75
DC 22,424
Only a few issues of this left as well, and like a few other comics, this book is being killed due to the fact that it is for an audience that just doesn't buy comic books anymore. If I were a 11- 15 year old, this book featuring teenage super-heroes would become my favorite book. As is, it's a mildly entertaining book interrupted by inside jokes that aren't all that funny anymore.
84 FABLES #9 (MR) $2.50
DC 21,980
85 MEKANIX #4 (Of 6) $2.99
MAR 21,860
Despite the name, a Kitty Pryde mini-series that is, despite the horrible covers, a fairly entertaining series where Claremont keeps his bad writing quirks under control. Mildly recommended for Old School X-Men fans.
86 SPIDER-MAN TANGLED WEB #22
$2.99 MAR 21,836
This Spider-Man anthology is able to show that if you give creators free reign on a company character, they can turn out great stories. I have only read one or two issues that were less than fantastic, and this one is no exception. Highly Recommended.
87 FILTH #8 (Of 13) (MR) $2.95
DC 21,403
88 SOLDIER X #7 $2.25
MAR 21,355
89 GHOST I/T SHELL 2 MAN MACHINE
INTERFACE #4 (MR) $3.50 DAR 20,803
Issue #1 just came out. So who knows if #4 is any good, other than psychics who spend their time reading comics from the future...which is a silly way to waste that kind of ability.
90 ROBOTECH SOURCEBOOK $2.95
DC 20,731
91 Y THE LAST MAN #7 (MR) $2.95
DC 20,719
While waiting for the trade paperback, which my comic shop blew off getting because they don't pay attention to sales, and the story is almost as good as people have been saying. The idea behind the series is that a disease has killed off all men but one, and we follow that man. The characters are driving the story, and they seem to be interesting, with unexplored depth. Mildly recommended, but that could change as I read the rest of the story arc.
92 STAR WARS REPUBLIC #50 (Note
Price) $5.99 DAR 20,707
93 SHANG CHI MASTER OF KUNG FU #5 (Of
6) (MR) $2.99 MAR 20,707
94 TITANS #49 $2.75
DC 20,635
One more issue and then it's cancelled and started over again. And this issue just feels like a writer TRYING to do a big story, but can't seem to get us interested in one.
95 GOTHAM CENTRAL #3 $2.50
DC 20,227
An incredibly well-done police procedural, with dark, moody art and stories that feel like good police novels do. Highly recommended and should be selling much better, so Go Buy It!
96 GLOBAL FREQUENCY #4 (Of 12)
$2.95 DC 19,675
97 GEN 13 #5 $2.95
DC 19,051
Not every 10 cent comic gets people to buy the book regularly. Especially when the comic is as unreadable as this one.
98 RUSE #16 $2.95
CRO 18,558
99 BRATH PREQUEL $2.95
CRO 18,462
Some info for people, A Prequel is a way to do another movie when the main characters died in the movie, and you can't make a sequel. And Brath looks like a very typical Conan ripoff, which I'm shocked it took CrossGen so long to try. Oh, it won't be any good, but I was sure they would have tried one back during their first year.
100 TOMB RAIDER JOURNEYS #9 (Of 12)
$2.99 IMA 17,910
I would think that if Tomb Raider sales are this low, the bloom is off the rose and no one much cares. I haven't cared for any of the Tomb Raider comics, since they seem to be based more on making sure there are good shots of her chest and ass thn making sure there is a story worth reading.
101 RED STAR VOL 2 #2 $2.95
ARC 17,778
102 BLACK PANTHER #53 $2.50
MAR 17,754
103 CSI CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION #1
(Of 5) (MR) $3.99 IDW 17,502
I am horridly addicted to this show, but $4 for a comic about it, which the coolest thing about the series is how they use camera trick and lack of characterization to focus solely on the fact of a case and its solution would be hard to bring off in a comic book. Still, it's by Max Allen Collins, so if anyone can pull it off, he can.
104 HARLEY QUINN #28 $2.50
DC 17,250
Wow. How the mighty have fallen. When it started, this series was a top 20 book, but inconsistant art and stories that don't fit the character have killed it. The recent issues forget that they character needs to be goofy fun in order to work.
105 TOM STRONGS TERRIFIC TALES #6
$2.95 DC 17,178
The last one I saw was #3. It was damn good, but that was months ago. Will the ABC books ever get on a schedule of any kind?
106 HELLBLAZER #180 (MR) $2.75
DC 17,094
107 MARVILLE ORIGINVILLE #5 $2.25
MAR 17,094
Marvel, take note, inside jokes spread out over 6 issues won't sell, even with titty covers. This is your proof.
108 100 BULLETS #42 (MR) $2.50
DC 16,914
109 KISS #6* $2.99
DAR 16,866
110 KILLRAVEN #4 (Of 6) $2.99
MAR 16,674
I wish I knew why Alan Davis wasn't a huge artist star. His art is amazing, his stories are usually just as good if not better than most writers, yet no one buys his stuff unless he's drawing a member of the X-Men. I'll be buying this in the collected trade, but with sales this low, I may have to just buy the individual issues instead of waiting.
111 WARLANDS VOL 3 #3 $2.95
DRE 16,494
112 SUPERMAN LAST STAND ON KRYPTON
$6.95 DC 16,434
113 WAY O/T RAT #9 $2.95
CRO 16,386
114 WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #6 (MR)
$2.95 DC 16,302
Nothing that bills itself as a "version" with a decimal point number that isn't a computer program is annoying and worthy of scorn. This is a perfect example of that.
115 PATH #11 $2.95
CRO 15,942
116 MARVEL DOUBLE SHOT #3 (Of 4)
$2.99 MAR 15,786
A nice surprise, as the first story was an exploration of how Reed Richards sees the connection between God and Science.
117 LONE WOLF 2100 #7 $2.99
DAR 15,557
118 BTVS #53 VIVA LAS BUFFY (3 Of 4)*
$2.99 DAR 15,305
119 SANDSCAPE #1 $2.95
DRE 15,233
120 BATMAN GOLDEN STREETS OF GOTHAM
$6.95 DC 15,065
Another Elseworlds, but to be honest, I have no idea what the plots are for these anymore. Maybe it's time to start bringing in people who will work on things OTHER than Batman in a different time period.
121 WAR STORY CONDORS (MR) $4.95
DC 15,041
122 LIMBO CITY #1 (RES) $2.95
DRE 14,993
123 STORMWATCH TEAM ACHILLES #7 (MR)
$2.95 DC 14,969
124 SPECTRE #25 $2.75
DC 14,873
Also cancelled, and another book I enjoyed, but it doesn't seem to be what the readers wanted. JM DeMatties took the idea of Hal Jordan as the Spectre and made it a very personal comic about redemption. It was like many of his other comics, and that can be a good thing for people who like his work, but confusing for non-fans.
125 SANDMAN PRESENTS BAST #1 (Of 3)
(MR) $2.95 DC 14,405
126 SCION #32 $2.95
CRO 14,357
127 LONE WOLF 2100 RED FILES $2.99
DAR 14,357
128 DOOM PATROL #16 $2.50
DC 14,117
I see this is slowly climbing the sales charts now that readers know it isn't going to be cancelled right away. I don't think it will ever be a successful book, since it's too weird for standard comic fans, but not odd enough to be Vertigo. I like it, but not enough to tell other people to buy it.
129 CROSSOVERS #1 $2.95
CRO 14,117
A super-hero parody that is about 20 years too late. I don't think a super-hero parody is the best way to launch a new imprint since that well was run dry a LONG time ago.
130 HELLBLAZER SPECIAL LADY
CONSTANTINE #2 (Of 4) (MR) $2.95 DC 14,081
131 JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #15
$2.25 DC 13,949
132 SIMPSONS COMICS #78 $2.50
BON 13,913
The other good TV adaptation, just as funny is not better than the TV show. Highly recommended.
133 SLEEPER #1 (MR) $2.95
DC 13,829
134 LUCIFER #34 (MR) $2.50
DC 13,637
135 CRUX #22 KEY ISSUE (Net) $1.48
CRO 13,577
136 POWER COMPANY #12 $2.75
DC 13,289
You have to give DC credit for trying with this comic at least. The launch was one of the dumber ideas they've ever had (buy 7 books in a week to get the origin of the team members), but the art and story are very good once you pick up the comic. It's kind of a standard super-hero team book with a mix of old characters and new. The kind of comic that fans loved in the 80's, but has slipped off the radar since. Mildly recommended for super-hero fans.
137 AZRAEL AGENT O/T BAT #98 $2.95
DC 12,893
Two issues until it's over. 50 issues since anyone gave a damn.
138 NEGATION #14 $2.95
CRO 12,436
139 MEK #3 (Of 3) $2.95
DC 12,436
140 ROUTE 666 #8 $2.95
CRO 12,436
141 MYSTIC #32 $2.95
CRO 12,376
142 FIRST #27 $2.95
CRO 12,088
143 SAVAGE DRAGON #107 $3.95
IMA 11,956
Still plugging along as the last of the Image books still done by the original creator, and who would have imagined that? Of course, I hate Erik Larson's art, and his stories are 70's style goofy slugfests, so I'm not big on the stories either.
144 EDENS TRAIL #3 (Of 6) $2.99
MAR 11,920
A casualty of Marvel's policy of not giving much information about upcoming comics in Previews. Before it came out I had no idea what it was about, other than it was going to be printed in an odd way and it had Japanese influenced art. I would imagine they could have sold at least another 5 to 10,000 copies if they had given us an inkling of what the story was or why we would be interested in it.
145 RA SALVATORE DEMON WARS TRIAL BY FIRE #2 (Of 5) $2.95 CRO 11,896
So, CrossGen's
first "creator owned" series is one by an old D&D
author who hasn't really had a good selling novel in a decade.
But, since CG publshes mainly fantasy with a super-hero sheen on
it, this should fit well with their fan base. I'm not
interested, tho.
146 SIGIL #32 $2.95
CRO 11,896
147 HUNTER AGE OF MAGIC #19 (MR)
$2.75 DC 11,692
I hear that this is DC Publisher Paul Levitz's favorite comic. I lost interest back in the Books of Magic series and haven't really missed it.
148 MERIDIAN #32 $2.95
CRO 11,668
149 DOMINION #1 $2.95
IMA 11,620
150 HELLSPAWN #21 $2.50
IMA 11,500
Does this ever get published anymore? And if so, does anyone buy it? And if so, do they READ it?
151 BATMAN GOTHAM ADVENTURES #58
$2.25 DC 11,440
152 STRANGERS IN PARADISE VOL III #56
$2.95 ABS 11,296
153 CODENAME KNOCKOUT #20 (MR)
$2.75 DC 10,996
Cancelled with #24. I picked up the first few issues, and while they were OK, it seemed like it was wavering between a very broad spy spoof and a attempt at a deep character study, two genres that don't work well together. Still 24 issues is pretty good nowadays.
154 FUTURAMA COMICS #11 $2.50
BON 10,948
Highly recommended, a very funny comic based on a very funny TV show that actually captures the mood and humor of the TV show it's based on.
155 CLOCK MAKER #1 (Of 12) $2.50
IMA 10,912
156 GRENDEL GOD & DEVIL #0 (MR)
$3.50 DAR 10,024
One new issue before starting into reprinting one of the better Grendel stories. Not that a person with a Grendel tattoo can be objective about such things, but I really wish Dark Horse would let us know that this is a reprint from isswue #1 onwards.
157 INVINCIBLE #1 $2.95
IMA 9,975
158 FATE O/T BLADE #5 (RES) (MR)
$2.95 DRE 9,831
159 TAROT WITCH O/T BLACK ROSE #18
(MR) $2.95 BRO 9,579
Is it just me, or is Jim Balent's breast fixation getting creepier by the month? I swear he should just turn this into a book about two breasts who fight other breasts and he'd be much happier. It's too bad, because his Catwoman work was actually very good, and drawn with a lot of skill.
160 VENTURE #1 $2.95
IMA 9,471
161 AMERICAN CENTURY #22 (MR)
$2.75 DC 9,459
Starting a new story, but this comic lost me around issue 12, and I have yet to jump back into the plot.
162 VAMPIRELLA #17 REG ED $2.99
HAR 9,375
163 ZERO GIRL FULL CIRCLE #3 (Of 5)
(MR) $2.95 DC 9,207
Sam Keith's work is always interesting, and i liked the first Zero Girl mini-series. This will be another one I buy as a collected trade paperback.
164 VAMPI #25 REG ED $2.99
HAR 9,111
165 FIREBREATHER #1 (Of 4) $2.95
IMA 9,015
166 ALAN MOORES COURTYARD #1 (MR)
$3.50 AVA 8,955
Love Alan Moore, but most of the stuff from Avatar turns my stomach. You see how I am going to be so torn...
167 NOBLE CAUSES FAMILY SECRETS #4*
$2.95 IMA 8,751
168 21 DOWN #5 $2.95
DC 8,751
169 XIN LEGEND O/T MONKEY KING #3
REG CVR $2.99 HAR 8,523
Haven't seen this comic yet, but boy do I LOVE monkeys!
170 VIOLENT MESSIAHS LAMENTING PAIN
#3 (Of 4) $2.95 IMA 8,415
171 AUTOMATIC KAFKA #7 (MR) $2.95
DC 8,391
172 HAWAIIAN DICK #2 $2.95
IMA 8,271
173 POWERPUFF GIRLS #34 $2.25
DC 8,187
174 SHONEN JUMP VOL 1 #3 MARCH 2003
$4.95 VIZ 7,851
The first issue sold 250,000+ copies outside the comic shop world. Does there need to be more proof that if comic publishers took some time and figured out how to sell their work, they could get high numbers of readers? This anthology (which American publishers say don't sell) features Dragonball Z, which is actually declining in ratings, and pulls a quarter of a million readers? Sorry, but a Spider-Man or X-Men magazine should do that well and anyone who can't sell that many copies just isn't trying.
175 USAGI YOJIMBO #63 $2.99
DAR 7,515
176 VERTIGO POP LONDON #3 (Of 4) (MR)
$2.95 DC 7,419
177 QUEEN & COUNTRY #13 (MR)
$2.95 ONI 7,239
Buying it as a trade.
178 SUPERBOY #147 FACSIMILE ED
$6.95 DC 7,215
The good thing about DC reprinting their 100 page specials from the past is that you get to see what comics used to be like. Now, I sure wouldn't recommend this stuff for anyone except nostalgia buffs, since the stories are silly at best and just randomly goofy at worst, but it is fun to see what comics used to be like.
179 KNIGHTS O/T DINNER TABLE #75
$3.99 KZR 7,155
Love love love this book, which has a wonderful strip about role playing gamers, lots of articles about role playing games and gives you 100 pages for $4. Highly recommended for gamers, since the strips are some of the most entertaining stuff being done in comics anymore.
180 OH MY GODDESS #94 TRAVELER (4
Of 5) $2.99 DAR 7,046
181 TECH JACKET #3 $2.95
IMA 6,818
182 NEVERMEN STREETS OF BLOOD #1 (Of
3) $2.99 DAR 6,602
183 BLACK SUN #5 (Of 6) (MR) $2.95
DC 6,446
184 RESISTANCE #5 $2.95
DC 6,422
I think the resistance is to Buying This Comic.
185 BLADE O/T IMMORTAL #75 FALL
FROST (3 Of 6) (MR) $2.99 DAR 6,422
186 GIRL GENIUS #9 $3.95
STF 6,422
187 QUEEN & COUNTRY
DECLASSIFIED #3 (Of 3) (MR) $2.95 ONI 6,386
188 STRAY BULLETS #29 (MR) $3.50
EL 6,338
Love both of the books above, but buy them in collected version so that they are easier to read.
189 FIGHT FOR TOMORROW #5 (Of 6) (MR)
$2.50 DC 6,278
190 CEREBUS #286 $2.25
AAR 6,182
Still moving along toward the final issue. I buy it in collected books, but I flipped through a recent issue and couldn't find anything remotely resembling a page of comic book art. It's all text. Hey Dave, did you misinterpret how many issues you had left and now need to do it all in prose, or do you really like typing up your stuff so much you don't want to draw it?
191 FOREVER MAELSTROM #3 (Of 6)
$2.95 DC 6,074
And I'll give $5 to anyone who knows what this comic is about without looking it up in Previews. I think DC needs to work on getting a publicity team when a comics junkie like myself has no idea what a book is about.
192 SCOOBY-DOO #68 $2.25
DC 5,690
193 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #119 $2.19
ARC 5,522
194 SUPER MANGA BLAST #29 (MR)
$5.99 DAR 5,246
Dark Horse's Manga anthology, and probably my favorite now that Pulp has been cancelled. the What's Michael strip is sheer genius, and now that they have added Appleseed, this is pretty much a must buy for me. Highly recommended for manga fans or people who want a good sample of japanese comics..
195 DRAGONBALL PART 6 #1 (Of 8) (Note
Price) $3.50 VIZ 5,078
196 METAL HURLANT #4 (MR) $3.95
HUM 4,802
Remember when Heavy Metal was based on a cool French magazine and wasn't just soft-corn porn with a SF sheen and pics of the publisher's girlfriend? Neither do I, but this has the name of that old French magazine and has soft-core porn with a SF sheen.
197 POISON ELVES #71 (RES) $2.95
SIR 4,742
Because this book hasn't died and gone away, I have proof that there is a God and he hates me with the same passion Pete Townshend has for looking at child porn.
198 CANNON GOD EXAXXION STAGE 2 (5
Of 5) #13 (MR) $3.50 DAR 4,730
199 PARADIGM #5 (MR) (Note Price)
$2.95 IMA 4,694
200 RANMA 1/2 PART 11 #11 (Of 11)
$2.95 VIZ 4,622
I still read this comic on a monthly basis, even though Viz has cut the prices of their compilations and it probably reads better in collected volumes, simply because I have been doing so since the series started. A fun martial arts sit-com of a book that takes a while to know all of the characters, but once you get a grasp of what's going on, it's a nice 15 minutes of entertainment every month.
201 BATTLE ANGEL ALITA LAST ORDER
PART 1 #5 $2.95 VIZ 4,454
202 GOLD DIGGER #39 $3.50
ANT 4,045
The story of the women on Joe Millionaire.
203 MAGE KNIGHT STOLEN DESTINY #4 (Of
5) $3.50 IDW 3,757
204 WARREN ELLIS SCARS #3 (Of 6) (MR)
$3.50 AVA 3,721
Cory's Rule of Warren Ellis comics: If his name is in the title, it is horridly painful and probably completely unreadable. This is no exception.
205 BIG DADDY DANGER #6 (Of 9)
$2.95 DC 3,709
Anyone think that the editor who green lighted this comic is currently in someone's office begging not be fired? This is easily the lowest sales on a DC comic that isn't marketed to little kids EVER. There is absolutely no way it can be making any money.
206 ALL NEW TENCHI MUYO PART 2 #4 (Of
5) $2.95 VIZ 3,577
207 LOONEY TUNES #98 $2.25
DC 3,253
208 INU YASHA PART 7 #6 (Of 8)
$2.95 VIZ 3,241
209 KODT ILLUSTRATED #18 $2.99
KZR 3,205
210 ALAN MOORES COURTYARD WRPRND #1
(MR) $3.95 AVA 3,157
More proof that either Avatar is trying to shed their image as a sleazy splatterporn publisher, or they have kidnapped Alan Moore's fam,ily and are holding them for ransom.
211 CARTOON CARTOONS #15 $2.25
DC 3,037
212 BONEYARD #9 $2.95
NBM 2,953
213 ARCHIE #532 $2.19
ARC 2,917
Why don't I review Archie comics? I don't read them. They aren't aimed at me. They really haven't changed in the last 30 years. If you like them, no review will change your mind, so there they are, buy them if you want.
214 COURTNEY CRUMRIN & COVEN OF
MYSTICS #2 (Of 4) $2.95 ONI 2,893
215 DOGWITCH #4 (MR) $2.95
SIR 2,821
216 BETTY & VERONICA #184
$2.19 ARC 2,713
217 NODWICK #19 $2.99
DOR 2,689
218 BONDAGE FAIRIES EXTREME #14 (A)
$3.50 ERO 2,677
Oh, it's not just Bondage. It's not just Fairies. It's EXTREME! Am I the only one who thinks that once a word is used to describe Doritoes, it's really played itself out as a hip marketing word?
219 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #102 $3.50
ANT 2,641
220 AP HOW TO DRAW MANGA #21 $4.95
ANT 2,629
221 KODT EVERKNIGHTS #4 $2.99
KZR 2,617
222 PUBO #2 (Of 3) $3.50
DAR 2,593
I don't even WANT to know what this is about.
223 VERONICA #136 $2.19
ARC 2,521
224 BETTY #122 $2.19
ARC 2,497
225 SABRINA VOL 2 #42 $2.19
ARC 2,497
226 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #140
$3.59 ARC 2,401
227 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #67 $2.19
ARC 2,389
228 KISSING CHAOS NONSTOP BEAUTY #3
(Of 4) (MR) $2.95 ONI 2,233
I was kissing chaos once. She took my wallet and left me a broken, broken man.
229 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #73
$3.59 ARC 2,209
230 KILLBOX #2 $5.00
ANT 2,197
231 CERES CELESTIAL LEGEND PART 4 #4
(Of 4) $3.50 VIZ 2,125
232 BASTARD #14 EMPRESS PART 4 (Of
4) (MR) $3.95 VIZ 2,125
233 ONE PLUS ONE #4 (Of 5) (MR)
$2.95 ONI 2,113
No, one plus one is two. Maybe this is a book by "President" Bush who can't seem to add things up either.
234 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #136
$2.39 ARC 2,113
235 HSU & CHAN #1 $2.95
SLA 2,053
I sure hope the printing on this is better than it is in the video game magazine it's running in. I skip those pages because I can't read the damn thing every month.
236 ARCHIE DIGEST #196 $2.39
ARC 2,041
237 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #92
$3.59 ARC 2,041
238 NEOTOPIA #1 $3.95
ANT 2,029
239 DRAGON ARMS #2 $3.50
ANT 2,017
240 JUGHEAD #149 $2.19
ARC 1,981
241 RAIJIN COMICS #5 (MR) $4.95
GUT 1,969
242 RAIJIN COMICS #6 (MR) $4.95
GUT 1,957
243 WANDERLUST HEAVENS FIRE #1 (Of
3) $2.95 CHI 1,957
244 RAIJIN COMICS #7 (MR) $4.95
GUT 1,945
245 RAIJIN COMICS #8 (MR) $4.95
GUT 1,945
4 issues in one month. Hope that works out for them. I know I wouldn't start buying a comic I needed to shell out $20 a month just to keep up with.
246 ARCHIE MYSTERIES #26 $2.19
ARC 1,897
247 PRO (STAR16409) (MR) $5.95
IMA 1,885
A very well done comic for the first 2/3rds, even though once you have the pitch down, the jokes are kind of standard. Too bad they felt they needed to go with the "heart-tugging" ending to redeem the character. Let me clue you in on a little secret: Hookers don't have hearts of gold. It's a bad stereotype that lets men think better of women who are selling their dignity in a degrading fashion and HATE THEIR CUSTOMERS.
248 MILK #33 (A) $2.99 RAD
1,861
249 BANZAI GIRL #1 ENCORE ED $2.95
SIR 1,813
This did well enough to be reprinted? Are you SURE? Wow. I am so out of the loop.
250 JUGHEAD W/ARCHIE DIGEST #181
$2.39 ARC 1,741
251 TWILIGHT X STORM #1 $3.50
ANT 1,717
252 SHI PANDORAS BOX PREVIEW TUCCI
CVR $1.99 AVA 1,705
I saw recently that Tucci was caught swiping poses from a Victoria's Secret catalog for some of his Shi poses. Yep, there's not better way to show a powerful independent female character than having her pose like she's selling bras and underpants.
253 BIG O PART 3 #3 (Of 4) $3.50
VIZ 1,669
254 LATEX ALICE #0 $2.95
AMR 1,549
And it's not even a mature readers book? Something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.
255 LUFTWAFFE 1946 #5 $5.95
ANT 1,537
256 MY MONKEYS NAME IS JENNIFER #6
$2.95 SLA 1,513
My cat's name is Fidget and I know to put a possessive apostrophe where it belongs. If you can't how can I trust that you can write a decent story?
257 SMALL FAVORS #7 (A) $3.50
ERO 1,441
258 SILENT MOBIUS PART 12 HELL #2 (Of
5) $2.95 VIZ 1,428
259 MOONSTONE MONSTERS VAMPIRE
VIXENS #1 $2.95 MNS 1,416
What's the point of a comic like this, when you can rent a cheap horror movie on video for $1.50? It's not like any of the drawings will be as sexy as Brinke Stevens taking her top off repeatedly.
OK, NOTHING is as sexy as Brinke Stevens taking her top of repeatedly.
260 FINDER #30 (MR) $2.95
LIG 1,416
261 FADE FROM BLUE #5 $1.50
SEC 1,392
262 STEWART THE RAT #1 (MR) $3.95
ABO 1,392
A reprint of the comic Steve Gerber did in the early 80's after being removed from Howard The Duck. A nostalgia piece only, but a fun read for people who liked his Howard The Duck stuff, as he was able to cut loose in this comic.
263 FURRLOUGH #121 $2.99
RAD 1,380
264 I LOVE YOU #1 (A) $2.95
ICE 1,344
An adult comic called "I Love You." I don't think this is going to be a story with poetry and deep emotional bonds. It's more like what the woman you picked up at the bar says to you when you offer her cabfare.
265 SUPERCAR #2 $2.95
MIS 1,320
266 DAWN CONVENTION SKETCH BOOK LTD
ED $20.00 LIN 1,308
267 WARREN ELLIS SCARS WRPRND #3 (Of
6) (MR) $3.95 AVA 1,296
For an extra dollar, you don't have to see the ad for a porn comic on the back of the book. You can ignore this comic for free, and that's what I recommend.
268 CONTENT #1 $3.00
DI 1,296
269 JACK THE LANTERN #1 (Of 5) (MR)
$3.00 CAS 1,284
Unless they have something really innovative in mind, I can't see how the story of a lantern is interesting enough for 5 issues of a comic. And I sat through Andy Kaufman reading The Great Gatsby.
270 JENNIFER DAYDREAMER #1 OLIVER
$4.95 TOP 1,260
271 SNAPDRAGONS #3 $2.99
DOR 1,248
272 VAGABOND #15 (MR) $4.95
VIZ 1,224
273 ALAN MOORES COURTYARD S/N
INCENTIVE (Net) $2.50 AVA 1,224
And here we have proof that Avatar Press, which does shitty Warren Ellis comics and splatterporn have kidnapped Alan Moore's family and is forcing him to work for them. Bastards. There's really no other excuse for him to work for this slimeball company.
274 LUMAKICK #1 (MR) $4.95
LUM 1,224
275 MENAGE A TROIS #2 (A) $3.50
ERO 1,176
276 GENUS MALE #2 (A) $4.99
RAD 1,152
Gay. Furry. Porn. Stuff like this makes me want to drive 18" steel needles deep into my eyes so that I will never have to see it again, but that won't stop them from publishing it, will it?
277 WARRIOR NUN AREALA #14 $3.50
ANT 1,128
278 DUNGEON #4 $2.95
NBM 1,116
279 LAB #2 $2.99 AST
1,116
280 CUSP ONE-SHOT (MR) $3.95
ALT 1,044
281 WARHAMMER MONTHLY #64 $3.50
GAM 1,032
282 MONSTER CLUB #2 $3.50
APC 1,032
283 SHI PANDORAS BOX PREVIEW*
$5.95 AVA 1,020
I guess a few people are dumb enough to pay $6 for a few sketches and interviews that will give next to no information. There is a name for these people...suckers!
284 JANES WORLD #1 $2.95
GIR 1,008
285 OH MY #2 (A) $2.95
ICE 972
It's an adult comics, so that means it's porn, but don't people say Oh My God instead of just Oh my when they have sex? Is this a porn comic that is trying not to offend?
286 PROJECT ARMS PART 1 #5 (Of 16)
$3.25 VIZ 924
287 VAMPIRE YUI VOL 5 #5 $2.95
ICE 924
288 VAMPIRELLA #17 LTD ED* $9.95
HAR 912
289 ELVIRA #117 $2.50
CLA 888
A few months ago I commented on how this was selling painfully low, it was the #300 comic and was barely breaking 1000 copies sold...now it's up 11 places and selling over 100 fewer copies. I think everyone who says that comics are rebounding are talking through their hat. Sales still suck, stores are still closing and new customers are NOT coming in to buy comics. Get these damn things in bookstores, where they are actually selling fairly well.
290 STORYLINES #1 (MR) $4.95
FAN 888
291 FILLER BUNNY #1 I FILL UP 15
PAGES (STAR14536) $2.25 SLA 888
292 ELIZABETH BATHORY #3 (A) $3.50
ERO 876
293 HEARTCORE #4 (A) $2.95
ICE 864
294 SPIRIT O/T AMAZON #2 (MR)
$2.95 NW 816
295 EXTINCTIONERS VOL 2 #12 (RES)
$4.99 SHA 816
Why does this sound like a bad 70's spin-off of the Executioner novels? Oh, and some words just sound stupid when you try to make them noun descriptors, take that into account when naming your comics, OK?
296 SPACE RACE #1 $2.99
RAD 816
297 SUPER HERO HAPPY HOUR #1 $3.00
GEE 780
That Superman is one nasty bastard once he gets about 5 Long Island Iced Teas in him.
298 SPECWAR #6 (MR) $3.25
PET 780
299 DARKSEID VS GALACTUS THE HUNGER
(STAR01128) $5.95 DC 768
The resolictiation of a comic over 5 years old, back when John Byrne still gave a damn about if his readers liked his stories or not.
300 COMIC BOOK HEAVEN VOL 2 #8 (Note
Price) $2.95 SLA 768