Comics Sales numbers

[Kirk Langstrom]

Thanks for the updates, man. Glad to see New Avengers still doing well.

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

Cap, Nude Avengers doing well is the death-knell for intelligent plotting and meaningful dialog in this industry.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Vic, i respectfully disagree. One of the things that attracts me to DD, Pulse, and NA is the dialogue.

The plotting was initially shakey though, i agree with you on that. But i feel it's improved with each subsequent issue.

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

I wish that I could get past my Bendis hate... it makes me feel dirty to hate someone I don't even know. As an old-school Marvelite, though, the thing I loved was Marvel continuity. But now with Joey hiring people whose egos are more important than that single world feel we had through the 70's, 80's and 90's... well, I don't see my hatred abating any time soon. Sorry 'bout dat.

 

[Symbiotica]

Dec 05 New Avengers #1 - 280,286 (+176.3%)
Jan 05 New Avengers #2 - 155,742 ( -44.3%)
Feb 05 New Avengers #3 - 148,973 ( -4.3%)
Mar 05 New Avengers #4 - 156,746 ( +5.2%)
Apr 05 New Avengers #5 - 162,412 ( +3.6%)

...honestly, I think this is the "car-crash effect" [for want of a better way of putting it.] It's not that this book is that great, it's that people are like: "Spidey's arm got broken...? The Avengers are NAKED?!... wtf?.... oh, wait, SPIDER-WOMAN kills WOLVERINE with his own claws, I mean, she gets the jump on WOLVERINE!!!! and then Luke Cage tosses him around.... tosses WOLVERINE around like he was a rag-doll...What the HELL?.... the bad-guy gets wasted mid-sentence, so nobody knows what's really going on after all...? Booty jokes....?! THIS, I GOTTA SEE! I don't BELIEVE this ****!"

The novelty WILL wear off, once the shock-factor gets a little old and the variant covers die down a bit.

The choppy dialog is just excruciatingly painful. Well, #5 was the last of my preorders, so I'll be spared further pain.

 

[Galactus]

12. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
May 01 Ultimate Spider-Man #9 - 79,201
May 02 Ultimate Spider-Man #22 - 90,905
May 03 Ultimate Spider-Man #41 - 102,794
======
May 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #58 - 90,963 ( +0.2%)
May 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #59 - 89,863 ( -1.2%)
Jun 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #60 - 104,789 (+16.6%)
Jun 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #61 - 101,159 ( -3.5%)
Jul 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #62 - 98,963 ( -2.2%)
Aug 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #63 - 96,279 ( -2.7%)
Aug 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #64 - 94,682 ( -1.7%)
Sep 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #65 - 94,174 ( -0.5%)
Oct 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #66 - 95,917 ( +1.9%)
Oct 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #67 - 95,071 ( -0.9%)
Nov 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #68 - 91,075 ( -4.2%)
Nov 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #69 - 90,010 ( -1.2%)
Dec 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #70 - 88,960 ( -1.2%)
Jan 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #71 - 83,987 ( -5.6%)
Feb 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #72 - 86,685 ( +3.2%)
Mar 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #73 - 83,943 ( -3.2%)
Mar 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #74 - 83,817 ( -0.2%)
Apr 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #75 - 83,940 ( +0.1%)
Apr 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #76 - 82,244 ( -2.0%)
May 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #77 - 81,034 ( -1.5%)
6 mnth (-10.0%)
1 year (-10.9%)
2 year (-21.2%)

And pretty much the same here, really. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN is back where it was four years ago. Frankly, there's not much to be said about these books - they're in long-term decline, they have been for months, they'll most likely carry on like that until something happens to shake them up and remind readers that they exist

14. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
May 01 Amazing Spider-Man #31 - 68,937
May 02 Amazing Spider-Man #41 - 97,947
May 03 Amazing Spider-Man #53 - 95,777
======
May 04 Amazing Spider-Man #507 - 81,944 ( -1.5%)
Jun 04 Amazing Spider-Man #508 - 82,268 ( +0.4%)
Jun 04 Amazing Spider-Man #509 - 101,632 (+23.5%)
Jul 04 Amazing Spider-Man #510 - 86,181 (-15.2%)
Aug 04 Amazing Spider-Man #511 - 88,118 ( +2.2%)
Sep 04 Amazing Spider-Man #512 - 88,628 ( +0.6%)
Oct 04 Amazing Spider-Man #513 - 89,615 ( +1.1%)
Nov 04 Amazing Spider-Man #514 - 87,121 ( -2.8%)
Dec 04 Amazing Spider-Man #515 - 83,637 ( -4.0%)
Jan 05 Amazing Spider-Man #516 - 79,842 ( -4.5%)
Feb 05 Amazing Spider-Man #517 - 78,584 ( -1.6%)
Mar 05 Amazing Spider-Man #518 - 77,025 ( -2.0%)
Apr 05 Amazing Spider-Man #519 - 79,668 ( +3.4%)
May 05 Amazing Spider-Man #520 - 76,143 ( -4.4%)
6 mnth (-12.6%)
1 year ( -7.1%)
2 year (-20.5%)

After last month's slight bump for the start of the New Avengers storyline, it's back to the normal trend. As the figures from earlier years show, we're now quite some way down from Straczynski's sales peak of a few years back. Not that sales in the mid-70K range are anything to be worried about, of course. Issue #519 picks up 1,133 reorders and charts at number 288.

26. MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN
May 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #2 - 99,320 (-27.7%)
Jun 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #3 - 82,715 (-16.7%)
Jul 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #4 - 75,508 ( -8.7%)
Aug 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #5 - 75,562 ( +0.1%)
Sep 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #6 - 71,492 ( -5.4%)
Oct 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #7 - 69,918 ( -2.2%)
Nov 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #8 - 68,290 ( -2.3%)
Dec 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #9 - 64,461 ( -5.6%)
Jan 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #10 - 61,831 ( -4.1%)
Feb 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #11 - 60,460 ( -2.2%)
Mar 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #12 - 59,983 ( -0.8%)
Apr 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #13 - 60,542 ( +0.9%)
May 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #14 - 57,270 ( -5.4%)
6 mnth (-16.1%)
1 year (-42.3%)

And again, back to established trends after the very, very slight bump for the new creative team on the previous issue.

55. SPIDER-MAN: BREAKOUT
Apr 05 Spider-Man: Breakout #1 (of 5) - 44,353
May 05 Spider-Man: Breakout #2 (of 5) - 35,476 (-20.0%)

Surprisingly, issue #1 picks up 1,379 re-orders. And yet the retailers still cut back drastically for the second issue. Odd.

84. MARVEL TEAM-UP
Nov 04 Marvel Team-Up #1 - 44,530
Nov 04 Marvel Team-Up #2 - 37,515 (-15.7%)
Dec 04 Marvel Team-Up #3 - 29,085 (-22.5%)
Jan 05 Marvel Team-Up #4 - 27,216 ( -6.4%)
Feb 05 Marvel Team-Up #5 - 28,141 ( +3.4%)
Mar 05 Marvel Team-Up #6 - 24,762 (-12.0%)
Apr 05 Marvel Team-Up #7 - 24,800 ( +0.2%)
May 05 Marvel Team-Up #8 - 24,270 ( -2.1%)
6 mnth (-35.3%)

Apparently levelling out in the 24K region, which is interesting considering the early drops. Upcoming solicitations refer to the book having a second year, which comes as something of a surprise in light of its early performance.

103. SPIDER-GIRL
May 01 Spider-Girl #34 - 23,928
May 02 Spider-Girl #47 - 24,060
May 03 Spider-Girl #60 - 23,112
======
May 04 Spider-Girl #73 - 20,275 ( -1.3%)
May 04 Spider-Girl #74 - 19,959 ( -1.6%)
Jun 04 Spider-Girl #75 - 24,674 (+23.6%)
Jul 04 Spider-Girl #76 - 22,157 (-10.2%)
Aug 04 Spider-Girl #77 - 21,758 ( -1.8%)
Sep 04 Spider-Girl #78 - 22,076 ( +1.5%)
Oct 04 Spider-Girl #79 - 21,893 ( -0.8%)
Nov 04 Spider-Girl #80 - 21,146 ( -3.4%)
Dec 04 Spider-Girl #81 - 20,419 ( -3.4%)
Jan 05 Spider-Girl #82 - 20,005 ( -2.0%)
Feb 05 Spider-Girl #83 - 20,382 ( +1.9%)
Mar 05 Spider-Girl #84 - 20,050 ( -1.6%)
Apr 05 Spider-Girl #85 - 19,682 ( -1.8%)
May 05 Spider-Girl #86 - 19,452 ( -1.2%)
6 mnth ( -8.0%)
1 year ( -4.1%)
2 year (-15.8%)

Hovering around the 19-21K mark.

114. SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED
May 04 Spider-Man Unlimited #3 - 31,661 (-15.7%)
Jun 04 n/a
Jul 04 Spider-Man Unlimited #4 - 26,506 (-16.3%)
Aug 04 n/a
Sep 04 Spider-Man Unlimited #5 - 24,156 ( -8.9%)
Oct 04 n/a
Nov 04 Spider-Man Unlimited #6 - 20,974 (-13.2%)
Dec 04 n/a
Jan 05 Spider-Man Unlimited #7 - 18,316 (-12.7%)
Feb 05 n/a
Mar 05 Spider-Man Unlimited #8 - 17,640 ( -3.7%)
Apr 05 n/a
May 05 Spider-Man Unlimited #9 - 16,953 ( -3.9%)
6 mnth (-19.2%)
1 year (-46.5%)

A book that just won't die, no matter how awful its sales get. Again, you really do have to wonder why Marvel are still bothering, with sales like this.

116. SPIDER-MAN/HUMAN TORCH
Jan 05 Spider-Man/Human Torch #1 (of 5) - 30,617
Feb 05 Spider-Man/Human Torch #2 (of 5) - 22,448 (-26.7%)
Mar 05 Spider-Man/Human Torch #3 (of 5) - 18,286 (-18.5%)
Apr 05 n/a
May 05 Spider-Man/Human Torch #4 (of 5) - 16,893 ( -7.6%)

Minimal interest.

156. MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN
Mar 05 Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #1 - 14,351
Apr 05 Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #2 - 10,305 (-28.2%)
May 05 Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #3 - 9,110 (-11.6%)

6 month comparisons
===================

+30.5% - Fantastic Four
+28.4% - Incredible Hulk
+14.8% - Excalibur
+ 0.1% - Astonishing X-Men
- 0.4% - Exiles
- 1.2% - Wolverine
- 5.2% - Daredevil
- 8.0% - Spider-Girl
- 8.5% - X-Men
- 8.5% - Punisher
- 9.2% - Uncanny X-Men
-10.0% - Cable & Deadpool
-10.0% - Ultimate Spider-Man
-10.2% - Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
-11.7% - Ultimate X-Men
-12.6% - Amazing Spider-Man
-15.3% - Ultimate Fantastic Four
-15.5% - X-Men: The End
-16.1% - Marvel Knights Spider-Man
-17.0% - Marvel Knights 4
-19.2% - Spider-Man Unlimited
-19.6% - New X-Men
-21.6% - Araña: Heart of the Spider / Amazing Fantasy
-22.6% - Captain America & The Falcon
-23.7% - District X
-25.6% - Rogue
-25.7% - Amazing Fantasy
-30.8% - New Thunderbolts
-31.0% - Captain America
-35.3% - Marvel Team-Up
-41.2% - Gambit


1 year comparisons
==================

+50.0% - Runaways
+32.4% - Fantastic Four
+23.5% - Captain America
+17.8% - Wolverine
- 3.4% - Incredible Hulk
- 4.1% - Spider-Girl
- 7.1% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 9.9% - Daredevil
-12.3% - Exiles
-10.9% - Ultimate Spider-Man
-15.9% - Ultimate X-Men
-21.8% - Punisher
-24.4% - X-Men
-25.5% - Uncanny X-Men
-29.2% - Ultimate Fantastic Four
-31.8% - Excalibur
-32.5% - Cable & Deadpool
-35.0% - Marvel Knights 4
-42.2% - Captain America & The Falcon
-42.3% - Marvel Knights Spider-Man
-42.7% - Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
-46.5% - Spider-Man Unlimited
-49.1% - Astonishing X-Men
-54.7% - New X-Men
-57.2% - District X


2 year comparisons
==================

+149.1% - Black Panther
+ 40.6% - New Thunderbolts / Thunderbolts
+ 29.4% - Fantastic Four
+ 24.2% - Runaways
- 3.3% - Ultimates 2
- 5.9% - Captain America
- 11.7% - Uncanny X-Men
- 12.7% - Ultimate X-Men
- 15.4% - X-Men
- 20.5% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 20.7% - Daredevil
- 21.2% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 28.7% - Incredible Hulk
- 49.0% - Wolverine

 

[spiderbob]

My God! Don't these people see these numbers!?! I mean really, they have to know this. They have to see this steady decline. My uncle right now would be furious if this was his company. I don't understand why they continue to turn a blind eye to this. Just...ARGH!! I need a drink.

 

[Galactus]

My God! Don't these people see these numbers!?! I mean really, they have to know this. They have to see this steady decline. My uncle right now would be furious if this was his company. I don't understand why they continue to turn a blind eye to this. Just...ARGH!! I need a drink.

Yes, they know about these numbers. And it's probably why they decided for another "big event", in hope to make people curious and buy it. You can't learn an old dog new tricks...

 

[Captivated]

I see the numbers for AMS and want to say "See, bad story = declining sales"

But then I look at the sales for MKSM (#1-12) and the Spidey/Human Torch series, which were awesome, and it doesn't make sense.

I want to know WHO these... odd... people were, who could read MKSM #11 and NOT pick up #12.

 

[TalesMN]

I agree. I hate that we don't have the whole picture regarding comic book sales, only having those through Diamond's to analyze. It seems odd to me that in a country like the US with 250 million people, the majority of which with buying power, only about 70 to 100 thousand buy spider-man ongoing comics. That seem too low a number for a character as iconic as him.

 

[masteryoda]

I agree. I hate that we don't have the whole picture regarding comic book sales, only having those through Diamond's to analyze. It seems odd to me that in a country like the US with 250 million people, the majority of which with buying power, only about 70 to 100 thousand buy spider-man ongoing comics. That seem too low a number for a character as iconic as him.

That has more to do with the state of comic sales overall then the character.

 

[Adrian_Tepes]

That has more to do with the state of comic sales overall then the character.

Nope.

That has more to do with the people working in the industry (for example JMS) than the state of sales. The people working in the industry are only writing to those 70 thousand or so.

 

[masteryoda]

Nope, you're wrong.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Hate to say it, but i don't see Spider-Girl lasting much longer at the rate it's going. Hope it makes it to #100.

 

[moffball]

I see the numbers for AMS and want to say "See, bad story = declining sales"

But then I look at the sales for MKSM (#1-12) and the Spidey/Human Torch series, which were awesome, and it doesn't make sense.

I want to know WHO these... odd... people were, who could read MKSM #11 and NOT pick up #12.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it quite works exactly that way, Cap The sales numbers are based on comic book shops ordering a certain issue, not how many are actually sold. So, it stand to reason that if interest in MKSM waned a bit in the middle of the series, less people buy it, and so by 8 or 9 or so, comic shops start ordering less and less. Owners are forced to speculate how many are going to sell so, even if it's the last issue of a fairly good book, if they're not selling what they were at number 1, they don't want to be stuck with heaps of back issues so they start cooling their orders. Hope that makes sense

 

[Auntie May]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it quite works exactly that way, Cap The sales numbers are based on comic book shops ordering a certain issue, not how many are actually sold. So, it stand to reason that if interest in MKSM waned a bit in the middle of the series, less people buy it, and so by 8 or 9 or so, comic shops start ordering less and less. Owners are forced to speculate how many are going to sell so, even if it's the last issue of a fairly good book, if they're not selling what they were at number 1, they don't want to be stuck with heaps of back issues so they start cooling their orders. Hope that makes sense

Yeah, they end up with tons of back issues if they don't plan right (though it's hard to predict if comic sales will drop off or if hype really will sell more comics). I saw a bunch of Sins Remembered and Sins Past back issues in the dollar bin of a comic store I don't usually go to a few months ago. There was a whole bunch of ASM 509 issues (the one that was reprinted right away). That owner obviously overestimated demand.

 

[Auntie May]

Hate to say it, but i don't see Spider-Girl lasting much longer at the rate it's going. Hope it makes it to #100.

I am pretty sure it's guarenteed until 100 (but who knows after that). I heard LHS did pretty well considering so maybe that will help sales a little

 

[Galactus]

Top 300 for August:
http://www.newsarama.com/marketreport/Aug05top300.html

 

[MattXG]

Wow USM is still doing pretty good 5 years later...


And do they happen to keep track of graphic novel sales? I know USM seems to sell strong there. In fact, I know alot of people only get the comic in TPB.

 

[BLAQUE-SPIDERMAN]

Go Spider-Girl, Go!

 

[iloveclones]

Wow USM is still doing pretty good 5 years later...


And do they happen to keep track of graphic novel sales? I know USM seems to sell strong there. In fact, I know alot of people only get the comic in TPB.

Actually, you have to look at those numbers over time(And believe me, I wish MTU could generate even half that number). That's still a really good number, but Marvel's got to be concerned about the steady bleeding of readers. That's 20,000 readers who have dumped the title (although, as you pointed out, they may just be buying the trades now)

Aug 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #63 - 96,279 ( -2.7%)
Aug 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #64 - 94,682 ( -1.7%)
Sep 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #65 - 94,174 ( -0.5%)
Oct 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #66 - 95,917 ( +1.9%)
Oct 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #67 - 95,071 ( -0.9%)
Nov 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #68 - 91,075 ( -4.2%)
Nov 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #69 - 90,010 ( -1.2%)
Dec 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #70 - 88,960 ( -1.2%)
Jan 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #71 - 83,987 ( -5.6%)
Feb 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #72 - 86,685 ( +3.2%)
Mar 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #73 - 83,943 ( -3.2%)
Mar 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #74 - 83,817 ( -0.2%)
Apr 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #75 - 83,940 ( +0.1%)
Apr 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #76 - 82,244 ( -2.0%)
May 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #77 - 81,034 ( -1.5%)
Jun 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #78 - 79,420 ( -2.0%)
Jul 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #79 - 78,404 ( -1.3%)
Jul 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #80 - 76,906 ( -1.9%)
Aug 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #81 - 75,572 ( -1.7%)
6 mnth (-12.8%)
1 year (-21.5%)
2 year (-24.9%)

 

[Citizen_Kaine]

Go Spider-Girl, Go!

I'm glad to see all my books sold well in August, I have no idea how Marvel Knights sold so well, Without Millar,Dodson or a number 1 on the cover

 

[Traveller]

191 Incredible Hulk 83 $2.99 Marvel 7,900
294 Pulse 10 $2.99 Marvel 2,200

Could it be true?

 

[LarryLegend]

ASM numbers are sad for such a flagship book.

 

[Galactus]

2,4. NEW AVENGERS
Sep 01 Avengers #46 - 60,722
Sep 02 Avengers #58 - 54,765
Sep 03 Avengers #70 - 58,878
======
Sep 04 Avengers #501 - 91,054 ( -35.0%)
Sep 04 Avengers #502 - 93,105 ( +2.3%)
Oct 04 n/a
Nov 04 Avengers #503 - 105,761 ( +13.6%)
Nov 04 Avengers Finale - 101,431 ( -4.1%)
Dec 05 New Avengers #1 - 280,286 (+176.3%)
Jan 05 New Avengers #2 - 155,742 ( -44.3%)
Feb 05 New Avengers #3 - 148,973 ( -4.3%)
Mar 05 New Avengers #4 - 158,303 ( +6.3%)
Apr 05 New Avengers #5 - 168,556 ( +6.5%)
May 05 n/a
Jun 05 New Avengers #6 - 164,592 ( -2.4%)
Jul 05 New Avengers #7 - 158,693 ( -3.6%)
Aug 05 New Avengers #8 - 156,037 ( -1.7%)
Aug 05 New Avengers #9 - 147,501 ( -5.5%)
Sep 05 New Avengers #10 - 143,014 ( -3.0%)
Sep 05 New Avengers #11 - 131,361 ( -8.1%)
6 mnth ( -17.0%)
1 year ( +44.3%)
2 year (+123.1%)

Issue #11 sees artist David Finch return to the title as the "Ronin" storyline begins. It also sees an 8% drop, which is initially surprising until you remember that this is the first issue of NEW AVENGERS not to feature a variant cover. In that context, the drop isn't too bad at all. And of course, all NEW AVENGERS figures have to be seen in the wider context - the book is still selling more than twice as much as it did in its previous incarnation, and it's 45% up even on Bendis' own early issues.

Issue #9 picks up 1,828 in re-orders and charts at number 259. As always, those extra sales are included in the figures above.

19,21. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
Sep 01 Ultimate Spider-Man #13 - 79,891
Sep 02 Ultimate Spider-Man #27 - 94,056
Sep 03 Ultimate Spider-Man #46 - 105,409
======
Sep 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #65 - 94,174 ( -0.5%)
Oct 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #66 - 95,917 ( +1.9%)
Oct 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #67 - 95,071 ( -0.9%)
Nov 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #68 - 91,075 ( -4.2%)
Nov 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #69 - 90,010 ( -1.2%)
Dec 04 Ultimate Spider-Man #70 - 88,960 ( -1.2%)
Jan 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #71 - 83,987 ( -5.6%)
Feb 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #72 - 86,685 ( +3.2%)
Mar 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #73 - 83,943 ( -3.2%)
Mar 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #74 - 83,817 ( -0.2%)
Apr 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #75 - 83,940 ( +0.1%)
Apr 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #76 - 82,244 ( -2.0%)
May 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #77 - 81,034 ( -1.5%)
Jun 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #78 - 79,420 ( -2.0%)
Jul 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #79 - 78,404 ( -1.3%)
Jul 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #80 - 76,906 ( -1.9%)
Aug 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #81 - 75,572 ( -1.7%)
Sep 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #82 - 75,756 ( +0.2%)
Sep 05 Ultimate Spider-Man #83 - 73,797 ( -2.6%)
6 mnth (-12.0%)
1 year (-21.6%)
2 year (-30.0%)

The "Gang War" storyline continues, and sales are still drifting downwards. The Ultimate line really needs a shot in the arm, and nebulous announcements about gold standards aren't going to do the job.

25. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Sep 01 Amazing Spider-Man #35 - 83,559
Sep 02 Amazing Spider-Man #45 - 98,817
Sep 03 Amazing Spider-Man #58 - 92,294
======
Sep 04 Amazing Spider-Man #512 - 88,628 ( +0.6%)
Oct 04 Amazing Spider-Man #513 - 89,615 ( +1.1%)
Nov 04 Amazing Spider-Man #514 - 87,121 ( -2.8%)
Dec 04 Amazing Spider-Man #515 - 83,637 ( -4.0%)
Jan 05 Amazing Spider-Man #516 - 79,842 ( -4.5%)
Feb 05 Amazing Spider-Man #517 - 78,584 ( -1.6%)
Mar 05 Amazing Spider-Man #518 - 77,025 ( -2.0%)
Apr 05 Amazing Spider-Man #519 - 79,668 ( +3.4%)
May 05 Amazing Spider-Man #520 - 76,143 ( -4.4%)
Jun 05 Amazing Spider-Man #521 - 74,117 ( -2.7%)
Jul 05 Amazing Spider-Man #522 - 73,130 ( -1.3%)
Aug 05 Amazing Spider-Man #523 - 72,046 ( -1.5%)
Sep 05 Amazing Spider-Man #524 - 71,065 ( -1.4%)
6 mnth ( -7.7%)
1 year (-19.8%)
2 year (-23.0%)

Drifting gently down. Next month we find out how much interest the "Other" crossover can generate.

33. SPIDER-MAN: HOUSE OF M
Jun 05 Spider-Man: House of M #1 (of 5) - 93,301
Jul 05 Spider-Man: House of M #2 (of 5) - 76,792 (-17.7%)
Aug 05 Spider-Man: House of M #3 (of 5) - 67,199 (-12.5%)
Sep 05 Spider-Man: House of M #4 (of 5) - 64,809 ( -3.6%)

A variant edition of issue #2 sells a further 5,206 copies to chart at number 201. Meanwhile, the miniseries levels out with its penultimate issue, which is fairly standard practice.

45. MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN
Sep 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #6 - 71,492 ( -5.4%)
Oct 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #7 - 69,918 ( -2.2%)
Nov 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #8 - 68,290 ( -2.3%)
Dec 04 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #9 - 64,461 ( -5.6%)
Jan 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #10 - 61,831 ( -4.1%)
Feb 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #11 - 60,460 ( -2.2%)
Mar 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #12 - 59,983 ( -0.8%)
Apr 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #13 - 60,542 ( +0.9%)
May 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #14 - 57,270 ( -5.4%)
Jun 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #15 - 54,102 ( -5.5%)
Jul 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #16 - 50,876 ( -6.0%)
Aug 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #17 - 48,555 ( -4.6%)
Sep 05 Marvel Knights Spider-Man #18 - 47,654 ( -1.9%)
6 mnth (-20.6%)
1 year (-33.3%)

The final part of Reginald Hudlin's first storyline, and it's plainly apparent that sales on this book are in steep decline. To be honest, with MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN down 20% in the last six months, and AMAZING down 23% in the same time, one could be forgiven for wondering why Marvel think there's an audience for a third monthly Spider-Man book at the moment. But we'll find out next month when FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN launches, and the "Other" crossover tries to breathe life back into the line.

105. MARVEL TEAM-UP
Nov 04 Marvel Team-Up #1 - 44,530
Nov 04 Marvel Team-Up #2 - 37,515 (-15.7%)
Dec 04 Marvel Team-Up #3 - 29,085 (-22.5%)
Jan 05 Marvel Team-Up #4 - 27,216 ( -6.4%)
Feb 05 Marvel Team-Up #5 - 28,141 ( +3.4%)
Mar 05 Marvel Team-Up #6 - 24,762 (-12.0%)
Apr 05 Marvel Team-Up #7 - 24,800 ( +0.2%)
May 05 Marvel Team-Up #8 - 24,270 ( -2.1%)
Jun 05 Marvel Team-Up #9 - 23,530 ( -3.0%)
Jul 05 Marvel Team-Up #10 - 22,549 ( -4.2%)
Aug 05 Marvel Team-Up #11 - 22,150 ( -1.8%)
Sep 05 Marvel Team-Up #12 - 21,240 ( -4.1%)
6 mnth ( -1.4%)

Every so often Marvel becomes fiercely loyal to a comic despite indifferent sales and muted reviews. This is one such comic. The numbers above are nothing to smile about, but it's still getting a second year.

117. SPIDER-GIRL
Sep 01 Spider-Girl #38 - 24,010
Sep 02 Spider-Girl #51 - 24,932
Sep 03 Spider-Girl #64 - 22,442
======
Sep 04 Spider-Girl #78 - 22,076 ( +1.5%)
Oct 04 Spider-Girl #79 - 21,893 ( -0.8%)
Nov 04 Spider-Girl #80 - 21,146 ( -3.4%)
Dec 04 Spider-Girl #81 - 20,419 ( -3.4%)
Jan 05 Spider-Girl #82 - 20,005 ( -2.0%)
Feb 05 Spider-Girl #83 - 20,382 ( +1.9%)
Mar 05 Spider-Girl #84 - 20,050 ( -1.6%)
Apr 05 Spider-Girl #85 - 19,682 ( -1.8%)
May 05 Spider-Girl #86 - 19,452 ( -1.2%)
Jun 05 Spider-Girl #87 - 19,605 ( +0.8%)
Jul 05 Spider-Girl #88 - 18,983 ( -3.2%)
Aug 05 Spider-Girl #89 - 18,538 ( -2.3%)
Sep 05 Spider-Girl #90 - 18,344 ( -1.0%)
6 mnth ( -8.5%)
1 year (-16.9%)
2 year (-18.3%)

Continuing the gentle downward slide.

126. SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED
Sep 04 Spider-Man Unlimited #5 - 24,156 ( -8.9%)
Oct 04 n/a
Nov 04 Spider-Man Unlimited #6 - 20,974 (-13.2%)
Dec 04 n/a
Jan 05 Spider-Man Unlimited #7 - 18,316 (-12.7%)
Feb 05 n/a
Mar 05 Spider-Man Unlimited #8 - 17,640 ( -3.7%)
Apr 05 n/a
May 05 Spider-Man Unlimited #9 - 16,953 ( -3.9%)
Jun 05 n/a
Jul 05 Spider-Man Unlimited #10 - 16,104 ( -5.0%)
Aug 05 n/a
Sep 05 Spider-Man Unlimited #11 - 15,684 ( -2.6%)
6 mnth (-11.1%)
1 year (-35.1%)

Still hanging in there despite the fact that Marvel surely can't be making much money on sales like these.

6 month comparisons
===================

+85.3% - Mutopia X / District X [House of M crossover]
+21.8% - Incredible Hulk [House of M crossover]
+21.8% - New X-Men [House of M crossover]
+12.8% - Captain America [House of M crossover]
+ 6.0% - Fantastic Four [new creative team]
+ 4.7% - Pulse
+ 0.5% - Exiles [House of M crossover]
- 0.6% - Uncanny X-Men
- 1.4% - Marvel Team-Up
- 2.2% - Cable & Deadpool
- 3.1% - Punisher
- 3.4% - Ultimate Fantastic Four
- 7.6% - Daredevil
- 7.7% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 8.5% - Spider-Girl
- 8.8% - Ultimates
- 8.8% - X-Men
-10.7% - Marvel Knights 4
-10.8% - Ultimate X-Men
-11.0% - New Thunderbolts
-11.1% - Spider-Man Unlimited
-12.0% - Ultimate Spider-Man
-14.0% - Runaways
-14.8% - Black Panther
-17.0% - New Avengers
-18.5% - Young Avengers
-20.6% - Marvel Knights Spider-Man
-24.8% - Ultimate Secret
-27.8% - Wolverine
-35.4% - Araña: Heart of the Spider
-48.8% - Ultimate Iron Man
-49.6% - Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
-49.8% - Marvel Adventures Spider-Man


1 year comparisons
==================

+44.8% - Runaways
+44.3% - New Avengers / Avengers [relaunch]
+41.7% - Captain America
+31.4% - Mutopia X / District X
+29.7% - Weapon X
+20.7% - Wolverine
+19.6% - Incredible Hulk
+17.1% - Exiles
+ 1.6% - Fantastic Four
- 7.7% - Pulse
- 8.5% - Thor
-10.5% - Uncanny X-Men
-10.8% - New X-Men
-12.1% - Daredevil
-15.5% - X-Men
-15.6% - Punisher
-16.9% - Spider-Girl
-17.6% - Cable & Deadpool
-18.0% - Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
-18.4% - Ultimate Fantastic Four
-19.8% - Amazing Spider-Man
-20.6% - Marvel Knights Spider-Man
-21.3% - Ultimate X-Men
-21.6% - Ultimate Spider-Man
-29.1% - Black Widow
-31.0% - Marvel Knights 4
-35.1% - Spider-Man Unlimited
-57.4% - Araña / Amazing Fantasy
-59.1% - Nightcrawler
-60.5% - Amazing Fantasy


2 year comparisons
==================

+123.1% - New Avengers / Avengers
+ 34.5% - Runaways
+ 26.5% - Pulse / Alias
+ 21.5% - Captain America
+ 21.4% - Weapon X
+ 5.6% - Thor
+ 4.4% - New X-Men / New Mutants
+ 1.9% - Exiles
- 0.2% - Punisher
- 3.9% - Wolverine
- 7.0% - Uncanny X-Men
- 7.7% - Fantastic Four
- 9.5% - Incredible Hulk
- 18.3% - Spider-Girl
- 23.0% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 23.0% - Daredevil
- 27.5% - X-Men / New X-Men
- 30.0% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 31.2% - Ultimate X-Men
- 72.3% - Marvel 1602