Comics Sales numbers

[Kirk Langstrom]

Nostalgic corner:

1966 (first year Amazing Spider-Man was tracked)

1) Batman DC 898,470
2) Superman DC 719,976
3) Superboy DC 608,386
4) Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane DC 530,808
5) Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen
DC 523,455
6) World's Finest Comics DC 513,201
7) Archie Archie 491,691
8) Action Comics DC 491,135
9) Adventure Comics DC 481,234
10) Justice League of America DC 408,219

11) Detective Comics DC 404,339
12) Metal Men DC 396,506
13) Treasure Chest Catholic Guild 348,305
14) Walt Disney's Comics & Stories Gold Key 346,250
15) Betty and Veronica Archie 342,295
16) Amazing Spider-Man Marvel 340,155
17) Tarzan Gold Key 338,052
18) Flintstones Gold Key 332,362
19) Fantastic Four Marvel 329,379
20) Flash DC 325,404

Whatever else you may think about the Batman TV show on ABC, there's no doubt that it made a huge difference to the comics, nearly doubling sales for the Caped Crusader's main title. Looking at the drops in the Superman titles, however, it appears that Adam West's coattails in comics seem to have been limited to the character he played.

Also significant about 1966 is that Marvel finally ran its first figures for Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man, in issues #61 and #47 respectively. By this time, both titles were well established, many classic stories having already appeared — and we find Spidey selling over a third of a million copies. We don't know what sales were for these titles between 1962-1965, but it's interesting to note that while they grow throughout the rest of the 1960s, that growth is not dramatic. This year also finds Marvel changing Journey into Mystery's title to Thor.

If only we still had these numbers today...

 

[Galactus]

The Amazing Spider-Man Comic Book Sales Figures
Average Total Paid Circulation as Reported in Postal Records
Paid Circulation
1963 no data published
1964 no data published
1965 no data published
1966 340,155
1967 361,663
1968 373,303
1969 372,352

1970 322,195
1971 307,550
1972 288,379
1973 273,204
1974 288,232
1975 273,773
1976 282,159
1977 281,860
1978 258,156
1979 no data published

1980 296,712
1981 242,781
1982 240,683
1983 241,762
1984 261,254
1985 326,695
1986 276,064
1987 284,692
1988 271,100
1989 266,100

1990 334,893
1991 340,977
1992 544,900
1993 592,442
1994 353,025
1995 234,290
1996 216,779
1997 159,950
1998 119,547
1999 127,915

2000 113,685
2001 113,557
2002 122,572
2003 122,173
2004 123,540
2005 112,564
2006 no data published

First issue: March 1963

Publishing history:
Marvel (1963-present)

Status: Ongoing


Possible Years for Statements: 44
Statements confirmed: 39
Years confirmed skipped: 5

Total number of copies sold (est.):
145-150 million

Continuing the adventures of the character first appearing in the 15th and final issue of the cancelled Amazing Fantasy, The Amazing Spider-Man would become the flagship title of Marvel's line. By 1969, it had vaulted into the Top 10 titles overall for the year, Marvel's first title to do so.

The cool-off following the Silver Age is clearly evident, apart from the outsized bump from 1980, which included the 200th issue.) We see growth again in the comics-shop era of the 1980s, with a peak in 1985, the year following the new-costume appeaance in #252. Reported sales begin to build again in the run-up to the Todd MacFarlane era, but the really big numbers were to come at the peak of the 1993 boom, when the sales nearly doubled their historic average. Sales followed the market downward in the recession of the mid- and late-1990s before rebounding a bit under J. Michael Straczynski in the early 2000s.

This series provides one of the better examples of trends in the overall market, as its sales were seemingly less affected by short-term external influences (such as the Batman TV show, which had a major effect on that title). It should be remembered in comparing across decades that the purchases of Spider-Man fans were divided multiple ways across multiple titles, whereas the purchaser up until 1972 only had one Spider-title with new content to consider.

Statement history: Marvel did not begin publishing Statements of Ownership in the title until 1966. The 1979 form has been confirmed not to have been published, and the 2006 form has not been found in any of the issues where it might have been expected to appear.

Subscriptions in 1995 included issues of Amazing Scarlet Spider, which the title had "become" for a while before resuming with its original name and numbering. And in 1998, after #441, Marvel restarted the title's numbering as Volume 2 — before having second thoughts in 2003 and resuming the original volume number with #500, counting those other issues as part of the same series. As far as the Statement record is concerned, they were, since the subscriptions went along with the volume change.

 

[Finlandman]

What happened in '93? Well, I was born, but I can't see that as a reason for 592 442 copies sold.

 

[iloveclones]

Don't sell yourself short.

Although, in truth, comic speculation probably had more to do with it. People were buying multiple copies of everything because they thought it would be worth something someday.

 

[Themanofbat]

What happened in '93? Well, I was born, but I can't see that as a reason for 592 442 copies sold.

Don't sell yourself short.

Although, in truth, comic speculation probably had more to do with it. People were buying multiple copies of everything because they thought it would be worth something someday.

I think that Spider-Man TAS began around that time...

Nevermind... that started in 1994.

 

[Galactus]

Top 20 for April:

1 Secret Invasion 1 $3.99 Marvel 250,213
2 New Avengers 40 $2.99 Marvel 110,448
3 Dark Tower Long Road Home 2 $3.99 Marvel 103,008
4 Mighty Avengers 12 $2.99 Marvel 97,219
5 Uncanny X-Men 497 $2.99 Marvel 93,350
6 Hulk 3 $2.99 Marvel 92,468
7 Thor 8 $2.99 Marvel 91,963
8 Amazing Spider-Man 555 $2.99 Marvel 86,885
9 Justice League of America 20 $2.99 DC 85,789
10 X-Force 3 $2.99 Marvel 85,732
11 Buffy Vampire Slayer 13 $2.99 Dark Horse 83,563
12 Captain America 37 $2.99 Marvel 80,619
13 Justice Society of America 14 $2.99 DC 80,491
14 Amazing Spider-Man 556 $2.99 Marvel 78,442
15 X-Men Legacy 210 $2.99 Marvel 77,425
16 Amazing Spider-Man 557 $2.99 Marvel 77,041
17 Titans 1 $3.50 DC 75,569
18 Countdown to Final Crisis 1 $2.99 DC 72,688
19 Young X-Men 1 $2.99 Marvel 71,579
20 Batman 675 $2.99 DC 71,124

 

[Brand]

The Wolverine guest shot issue showed a bit of a jump over the other issues, as most people expected. Numbers continued to dip and seem to be settling in the mid- to high-70ks, as many predicted. Overall, not a lot of surprises. I don't think there'll be much to get excited about unless we suddenly see a jump in sales (without tie-ins/guest shots) or another sharp decrease in sales from this point on.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Top 20 for April:

1 Secret Invasion 1 $3.99 Marvel 250,213
2 New Avengers 40 $2.99 Marvel 110,448
3 Dark Tower Long Road Home 2 $3.99 Marvel 103,008
4 Mighty Avengers 12 $2.99 Marvel 97,219
5 Uncanny X-Men 497 $2.99 Marvel 93,350
6 Hulk 3 $2.99 Marvel 92,468
7 Thor 8 $2.99 Marvel 91,963
8 Amazing Spider-Man 555 $2.99 Marvel 86,885
9 Justice League of America 20 $2.99 DC 85,789
10 X-Force 3 $2.99 Marvel 85,732
11 Buffy Vampire Slayer 13 $2.99 Dark Horse 83,563
12 Captain America 37 $2.99 Marvel 80,619
13 Justice Society of America 14 $2.99 DC 80,491
14 Amazing Spider-Man 556 $2.99 Marvel 78,442
15 X-Men Legacy 210 $2.99 Marvel 77,425
16 Amazing Spider-Man 557 $2.99 Marvel 77,041
17 Titans 1 $3.50 DC 75,569
18 Countdown to Final Crisis 1 $2.99 DC 72,688
19 Young X-Men 1 $2.99 Marvel 71,579
20 Batman 675 $2.99 DC 71,124

Sales still not as strong as they were a year or so ago. This economy stinks!

Glad Secret Invasion, NA, and Stephen King are still kicking ass.

 

[Spec Spider-Man]

It's an unpredictable world...

You Said it.

 

[Blader5489]

What happened in '93? Well, I was born, but I can't see that as a reason for 592 442 copies sold.

The Death of Superman

 

[Styleshift]

I'm stunned at how bad the hulk is kicking A Spidey's butt in sales...
maybe because the story telling isn't forced.
Which is why I will be picking the hulk, x-men, batman and ultimate spider-man for my new reads.

 

[Styleshift]

I'm stunned at how bad the hulk is kicking A Spidey's butt in sales...
maybe because the story telling isn't forced.
Which is why I will be picking the hulk, x-men, batman and ultimate spider-man for my new reads.

 

[ragingdemon155]

Well, I've predicted that BND sales would see a steady decline week after week. Styleshift though, I wouldn't get too excited though since sales are done for titles all over the board. Comics don't sell like they use to. It's a dying art.

 

[Galactus]

Top 25 for May

1 Secret Invasion 2 $3.99 Marvel 182,390
2 Final Crisis 1 $3.99 DC 144,784
3 New Avengers 41 $2.99 Marvel 109,153
4 Avengers Invaders 1 $2.99 Marvel 108,104
5 Invincible Iron Man 1 $2.99 Marvel 105,833
6 Giant Size Astonishing X-Men 1 $4.99 Marvel 105,477
7 Batman 676 $2.99 DC 105,008
8 Mighty Avengers 13 $2.99 Marvel 96,862
9 Batman 677 $2.99 DC 96,088
10 Mighty Avengers 14 $2.99 Marvel 95,253
11 Justice League of America 21 $2.99 DC 90,009
12 Dark Tower Long Road Home 3 $3.99 Marvel 87,605
13 Thor 9 $2.99 Marvel 87,076
14 Uncanny X-Men 498 $2.99 Marvel 82,066
15 Buffy Vampire Slayer 14 $2.99 Dark Horse 82,045
16 X-Force 4 $2.99 Marvel 80,151
17 X-Men Legacy 211 $2.99 Marvel 79,795
18 Captain America 38 $2.99 Marvel 79,327
19 Justice Society of America 15 $2.99 DC 78,288
20 Amazing Spider-Man 558 $2.99 Marvel 76,944
21 Amazing Spider-Man 559 $2.99 Marvel 74,184
22 X-Men Legacy 212 $2.99 Marvel 74,011
23 Amazing Spider-Man 560 $2.99 Marvel 73,991
24 All Star Superman 11 $2.99 DC 70,335
25 Green Lantern 31 $2.99 DC 65,854

 

[farmernudie]

Still a steady decline.

I know all comics are hurting, and the economy is bad also.

So, if it were me, I'd go with something less controversial and something that isn't as devisive. Something that is more a sure thing so that the split fan base can come back and enjoy spidey again.

There are lots of long time loyal fans not buying anymore. I've bought from the beginning and have only not during Clone Saga and now. And it is safe to say they've not attracted tons of young single kids by this move, only alienated and divided their current customers.

The customer should be "right" and not wrong, which is what Marvel and Joe with Spidey comics, anyway, kinda comes across with the slogan that spidey fans are wrong and he is right, like he is the one that knows "The way".

 

[Themanofbat]

Still a steady decline.

I wouldn't say it's a steady decline... if anything, it appears to be stabalizing...

The last 5 issues averaged 76 120 copies sold, and last month's average was 75 040 copies... with the last 2 issues only being 193 copies difference.

Even if it settles around 72 000 copies per issue, that's still 21 000 more copies of monthly Spider-Man comics sold than pre-OMD

The customer should be "right" and not wrong, which is what Marvel and Joe with Spidey comics, anyway, kinda comes across with the slogan that spidey fans are wrong and he is right, like he is the one that knows "The way".

But if the "fans" are always "right", then Peter would still be dating/married/having kids with Gwen Stacy... and YOU, of all people, know it.

It's unfortunate that certain things happen in comics, but that's the nature of the industry... things always change... the best comics are the ones where things happen that we didn't see coming (not that we didn't see the train wreck that was OMD)... but as I stated, these are comics, and the Spidey ones are now really entertaining FOR ME... that doesn't mean they should be for YOU, and I respect and understand your decisions... but the "fans" can't always be "right" in comics... otherwise, we'd get the same bland sugar pablum every week.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Suprised Final Crisis came in at #2. Damn spidey could be out of the top 20 next time entirely.

 

[Themanofbat]

Here are CBR's "estimated" sales numbers for the top 25 for May...

You can see the rest here...

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16836

They differ by quite a bit when compared to Galactus' list... so while I don't know where he got his, I guess we'll only know when the numbers are made available...

But if you look at this list, the ASM average is over 82k per issue... that's a 7000 issue difference between lists...



I can't believe that CBR would be THAT much "off", but the guy writing the article does make the claim that these are "estimates"...

1 Secret Invasion #2 - 200,344
2 Final Crisis #1 - 159,036
3 New Avengers #41 - 119,898
4 Avengers Invaders #1 - 118,746
5 Invincible Iron Man #1 - 116,251
6 Giant Size Astonishing X Men #1 - 115,860
7 Batman #676 - 115,345
8 Mighty Avengers #13 - 106,397
9 Batman #677 - 105,547
10 Mighty Avengers #14 - 104,630
11 Justice League of America #21 - 98,869
12 Dark Tower Long Road Home #3 - 96,229
13 Thor #9 - 95,648
14 Uncanny X Men #498 - 90,144
15 Buffy the Vampire Slayer #14 - 90,122
16 X Force #4 - 88,041
17 X Men Legacy #211 - 87,650
18 Captain America #38 - 87,135
19 Justice Society of America #15 - 85,994
20 Amazing Spider Man #558 - 84,518
21 Amazing Spider Man #559 - 81,487
22 X Men Legacy 212 - 81,297
23 Amazing Spider Man #560 - 81,274
24 All Star Superman #11 - 77,259
25 Green Lantern #31 - 72,337

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Top 25 for May

1 Secret Invasion 2 $3.99 Marvel 182,390
2 Final Crisis 1 $3.99 DC 144,784
3 New Avengers 41 $2.99 Marvel 109,153
4 Avengers Invaders 1 $2.99 Marvel 108,104
5 Invincible Iron Man 1 $2.99 Marvel 105,833
6 Giant Size Astonishing X-Men 1 $4.99 Marvel 105,477
7 Batman 676 $2.99 DC 105,008
8 Mighty Avengers 13 $2.99 Marvel 96,862
9 Batman 677 $2.99 DC 96,088
10 Mighty Avengers 14 $2.99 Marvel 95,253
11 Justice League of America 21 $2.99 DC 90,009
12 Dark Tower Long Road Home 3 $3.99 Marvel 87,605
13 Thor 9 $2.99 Marvel 87,076
14 Uncanny X-Men 498 $2.99 Marvel 82,066
15 Buffy Vampire Slayer 14 $2.99 Dark Horse 82,045
16 X-Force 4 $2.99 Marvel 80,151
17 X-Men Legacy 211 $2.99 Marvel 79,795
18 Captain America 38 $2.99 Marvel 79,327
19 Justice Society of America 15 $2.99 DC 78,288
20 Amazing Spider-Man 558 $2.99 Marvel 76,944
21 Amazing Spider-Man 559 $2.99 Marvel 74,184
22 X-Men Legacy 212 $2.99 Marvel 74,011
23 Amazing Spider-Man 560 $2.99 Marvel 73,991
24 All Star Superman 11 $2.99 DC 70,335
25 Green Lantern 31 $2.99 DC 65,854

Wow, when was the last time an Iron Man solo book was in the top five?

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Here are CBR's "estimated" sales numbers for the top 25 for May...

You can see the rest here...

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16836

They differ by quite a bit when compared to Galactus' list... so while I don't know where he got his, I guess we'll only know when the numbers are made available...

But if you look at this list, the ASM average is over 82k per issue... that's a 7000 issue difference between lists...



I can't believe that CBR would be THAT much "off", but the guy writing the article does make the claim that these are "estimates"...

1 Secret Invasion #2 - 200,344
2 Final Crisis #1 - 159,036
3 New Avengers #41 - 119,898
4 Avengers Invaders #1 - 118,746
5 Invincible Iron Man #1 - 116,251
6 Giant Size Astonishing X Men #1 - 115,860
7 Batman #676 - 115,345
8 Mighty Avengers #13 - 106,397
9 Batman #677 - 105,547
10 Mighty Avengers #14 - 104,630
11 Justice League of America #21 - 98,869
12 Dark Tower Long Road Home #3 - 96,229
13 Thor #9 - 95,648
14 Uncanny X Men #498 - 90,144
15 Buffy the Vampire Slayer #14 - 90,122
16 X Force #4 - 88,041
17 X Men Legacy #211 - 87,650
18 Captain America #38 - 87,135
19 Justice Society of America #15 - 85,994
20 Amazing Spider Man #558 - 84,518
21 Amazing Spider Man #559 - 81,487
22 X Men Legacy 212 - 81,297
23 Amazing Spider Man #560 - 81,274
24 All Star Superman #11 - 77,259
25 Green Lantern #31 - 72,337

I like THIS list better! All of the top ten are selling over 100k.

 

[iloveclones]

I think this might be the first time I saw a Marvel comic go up so much after one of their movies came out. Marvel definately made the right moves (and movies) this summer!

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I think this might be the first time I saw a Marvel comic go up so much after one of their movies came out. Marvel definately made the right moves (and movies) this summer!

I was just thinking the same thing. In fact, I've NEVER noticed an increase in sales for any Marvel book when one of their movies comes out until now.

The trick is; keep any and all new fans interested. The current storyline in the new Iron Man book is pretty cool, so hopefully sales will remain somewhat consistent. (no mean feat in this current economy)...

 

[Themanofbat]

Invincible Iron Man was the FIRST comic I ever signed up for AFTER watching the movie...

Though I did get a bunch of Sin City Trades after watching that movie...

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Invincible Iron Man was the FIRST comic I ever signed up for AFTER watching the movie...

Though I did get a bunch of Sin City Trades after watching that movie...

Same here.

 

[Galactus]

I think this might be the first time I saw a Marvel comic go up so much after one of their movies came out. Marvel definately made the right moves (and movies) this summer!

The question is though if it sold good because of the movie or because it was the first issue...