In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Cavemen in Space SC

I am very excited to see Joey Weiser‘s new book in stores! A while back he did a fundraiser in order to publish it and distribute it through AdHouse. It is awesome that he was able to get this book into stores all over the country. Cavemen in Space is about a time-travelling professor who brings seven cavemen to the future to study them. The story sounds like a lot of fun and the art looks great. I love his clean, cartoony style. If you like the book be sure and stop by his table at HeroesCon to tell him so. And pick up a copy of Mermin #1 while you are at it!

2) Batman The Return of Bruce Wayne #1

Speaking of Cavemen, this book is full of ’em. Grant Morrison tells the tale of Bruce Wayne’s adventures through time and his eventual return to present-day Gotham. There will be a rotating cast of artists. Issue #1 features the art of Chris Sprouse and Karl Story.

3) Siege #4

This week was Siege-tastic! Marvel wraps up the Siege storyline as they move forward with the Heroic Age. In additition to Siege #4, New Avengers Finale #1, Siege Embedded #4, Siege: Fallen (Spoiler alert! Don’t look at the cover of that or read the full title if you want the end of Siege #4 spoiled) and Dark Avengers #16 came out as well.

4) Wolverine #900

This special collects 5 stories all about Wolverine by some awesome people! Todd Dezago, David Finch, C.B. Cebulski and more! I

5) Sweet Tooth TP vol 1

This trade collects the first 5 issues of Jeff Lemire‘s quirky new Vertigo title about a hybrid named Gus who teams up with a hunter to find “The Preserve” which is a sanctuary for hybrids. This book has been getting a lot of praise. So I am looking forward to seeing what the buzz is all about!

At Heidi McDonald’s “The Beat”, her crack team of analyzers go over the monthly estimated order numbers from all the publishers selling through the “direct market” (known to you and me as Comic Book Stores).  I enjoy the articles  for what they are:  Educated guesses about trends of what comic shops have bought.  These numbers don’t catch the actual sell through at the stores, mail subscriptions or  newsstand sales[1] (such as 7-11s or Border’s or whatever).

The best selling titles for March of 2010 topped out at around 135,000 for DC and 113,000 at Marvel.  This got me thinking about comic sales, and why they seem to be so, so low.  Interest and awareness of comic characters is higher than I can ever recall, so why the low numbers?  Have trade paperback sales eaten into monthly circulation?  Is the overall impenetrability of the major titles discouraging to new readers?  Is $4 too much for a ten minute read?  Do people download them for free?  Is print media DOA?  Let’s look at historical comic sales trends before we use Heroesonline to save the comics industry!

With some internet digging, here are some comic sales factoids (courtesy of The Comics Chronicles), gleaned from the Postal Service Statement of Ownership and Circulation, which used to be run once a year in the back of most comics:

In 1960, the best selling comic was  Uncle Scrooge, moving on average 1,040,000 copies per month.  Superman topped out at around 810,000 copies.

Batman’s television debut in 1966 saw his eponymous title rocket to the number one spot with nearly 900,000 copies sold on average.  Marvel’s best selling title was Amazing Spider-Man at number 16, which turned about 340,000 issues, edged out by the Catholic Guild’s Treasure Chest by over 8000 units!

1969 saw Marvel finally break into the top 10, with Spidey’s circulation at around 372,000, Superman’s near 511,000, and Archie taking number one with 515,000 comics sold.

The 1970s saw a dramatic decline in comic sales, marked by numerous price hikes, from 15¢ in 1969 to 40¢  by 1979.  In order to make more money, both major companies started to up their output.  In order to bolster sales and beat out Marvel, who had finally surged ahead in the ’70s, DC increased their line dramatically in the famous “DC Explosion”.  This was followed by the infamous “DC Implosion” in 1978, leading to the sudden cancellation of 20 titles.  Over the next ten years, the newsstand market steadily declined to the point of effective nonexistence.

Concurrent to this, comic sales rebounded, primarily through the direct market of specialty comic book stores.  Things seemed good for the next 15 years, until the the speculators market of the 90s.  What followed was an industry-wide implosion that we’re still dealing with the effects of today.  We’ll get to that over the weekend, as well as how digital distribution just might be the new “newsstand”!

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[1] From their inception in the 1930s through the 1980s, a comic’s print run was was significantly higher then it is today, up to 100% of the eventual sell-through.  Newsstand distribution allowed for the return of unsold items, where a vendor would “strip” the cover from the book and send it back to the distributor for refund or credit.  Cancellation of titles seems to have occurred when they fell below that 50%-ish sell-through.

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Thor and the Warriors Four #2

That cover says it all!

2) I, Zombie #1

I am super excited about this! And the fact that Vertigo is putting out a lot of #1 at $1. Mike Allred‘s art looks fantastic! And Chris Roberson is writing and I really enjoyed his work on Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love.

3) Astonish Spider-Man Wolverine #1

This looks like a really fun team-up book! I am digging Adam Kubert‘s art and Jason Aaron always writes a good Wolverine. Plus, there is a weird and creepy looking villian.

4) Superman: War of the Supermen #1

If you picked up the Free Comic Book Day Superman: War of the Supermen #0 then you might want to check this out! There are Supermens a fightin’!

5) Hellboy In Mexico One Shot

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo is a Hellboy one shot, ironically enough, set in Mexico. It is written by Mike Mignola with Richard Corben on the art. I read this during lunch and it was great! Did I mention Mignola will be at Heroes Con June 4 thru 6?

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which ones she is most excited about!

1) Invincible Iron Man #25

This issue introduces Iron Man’s new costume!

2) Wilson HC

This is Daniel Clowes‘s first original graphic novel. The story is told through a series of one page “strips” using different artistic styles. Wilson is about a man’s journey of self discovery as he tries to reconnect with his family.

3) Neil Gaiman’s Instructions HC

Gaiman gives us instructions on what to do if we are in a fairy tale world. It is beautifully illustrated by Charles Vess. Definitely worth a look!

4) Fraggle Rock #1

Some of you may remember Jim Henson‘s series Fraggle Rock. Being a Henson/Muppet uber-fan I know I remember! And I own them all on DVD, but I digress. This first issue contains three short stories. The last story is written and drawn by Jeffery Brown (so is the Uncle Traveling Matt cover). Check out the FCBD Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock flip book for a taste of this new series!

5) Garrison #1

Jeff Marriotte and Francesco Francavilla bring us a creator owned book from Wildstorm. This is the first issue of a six-issue miniseries about a killer. The only question is: Is he good or is he bad. I am really glad that Wildstorm does this and I really hope that they continue to support creator owned endeavors!

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Sif #1

Written by Kelly Sue Deconnick with art by Ryan Stegman, Sif tells the story of how she is fitting in with the residents of Broxton, Oklahoma. I am really digging the art! This looks like a fun Asgardian story!

2) Captain America Who Won’t Wield the Shield?

There are some super talented people on this book. I was pretty surprised to flip through and see Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Brendan McCarthy, Joe Quinones and Forbush Man. It looks entertaining if not slightly silly.

3) Brave and the Bold #33

You mean to tell me that J. Michael Straczynski and Cliff Chiang did a Zatanna, Wonder Woman and Batgirl story? Sign me up!

4) MOME vol 18 Spring 2010

MOME is always full of super talented people and this issue is no exception. I love to flip through and see some new (to me at least), up-and-coming names in comics. I particularly like Chocolate Gun Cold Heat Story and Autumn. My only complaint is that there aren’t page numbers. It can make it hard to figure out what is what.

5) Spirit #1

I am a big Spirit fan so I am super excited about this relaunch. It looks darker and gritter than the last series (the black-and-white back-up in particular). Hopefully this series will stay true to the “spirit” of the Spirit and be a light-hearted, fun crime book!

In which Shawn (formerly Reynolds, presently Daughhetee) looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Iron Man Legacy #1

Marvel is putting out a new ongoing  Iron Man series just in time for the movie. Iron Man Legacy is going into Iron Man’s past and telling his untold stories. This issue also reprints his origin story. Black Widow #1 is also out this week!

2) Flash #1

Flash’s new ongoing series starts today! It is part of the Brightest Day crossover (Brightest Day #0 also came out today!) and you get a free Flash ring with purchase while supplies last. We also got in more of the Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010 which sold out fast last week.

3) Dan DeCarlo’s Jetta HC

This is the first inIDW’s Good Girl Art Library. It not only reprints Jetta issues but it also includes pin-ups from some super talented artists like Colleen Coover, Molly Crabapple, Andrew Pepoy and Robert Ullman.

4) Mercury SC/HC

Mercury is the latest young adult novel from Hope Larson. It takes place in Nova Scotia in two different time

periods. I picked up one from Larson at MoCCA this past weekend. It is always delightful getting to talk to her. I also picked up Dash Shaw‘s Body World which also came out today. So many good books and first issues came out today!

5) The Light #1

The writer from Olympus, Nathan Edmundson, and the artist from Surrogates, Brett Weldele, weave a horror story about a virus and a mysterious light.

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Blackest Night #8

Did someone say “splash pages”? The final installment of the Blackest Night mini-series is plum full of action, excitement and suprises. Here at Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find you get a free Black Lantern ring with purchase of Blackest Night #8!

2) Amazing Spider-Man #627

Roger Stern and Lee Weeks and the Juggernaut? Sign me up!

3) X-Men Second Coming #1

Hope and Cable return from the future to the X-Men and Utopia (their new home near San Francisco).

4) John Stanley Library Melvin Monster HC vol 2

It is like John Stanley took what I love about the Addams Family and the Munsters and turned it into a comic book. It has the perfect amount of humor and camp. I love it!

5) RASL #7

I seriously can’t wait to get home so I can read this book! If loving RASL and Jeff Smith is wrong than I don’t want to be right.

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Uncanny X-Men #522

Is Magneto a good guy? Is Kittie Pryde back? Some or more of these questions may be answered in this issue of Uncanny X-Men!

2) Nemesis by Millar and McNiven #1

Mark Millar and Steve McNiven team up yet again! Nemesis boils down to this: a rich-guy vigilante goes bad. Or what if Batman were the Joker?

3) Art of Jaime Hernandez Secrets of Life & Death HC

Awesomely executed oversized art book for only $40!

4) Green Lantern #52

The cover of Green Lantern gives away the shocking ending of Blackest Night #7 so if you haven’t read that issue avert your eyes!

5) The Guild #1

Felicia Day and Jim Rugg bring you the origin story of The Guild, which is Day’s web series. Some of you may know her from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog. If you haven’t watched The Guild you should check out some of the episodes. It is funny even if you aren’t into gaming or live action role-playing.

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) American Vampire #1

Features two all-new short stories illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque with first story written by Scott Snyder and the second written by Stephen King. I really dig the art on this book. Albuquerque was able to subtly change up his art to distinguish between the two stories.

2) Jughead #200

I bet Jughead eats a hamburger in this issue.

3) Nation X #4

I open up the book and what is the first thing I see? An X-Factor story by Peter Milligan and Michael Allred featuring Doop. Sweet!

4) Krazy & Ignatz Tiger Tea HC

Perfect jumping on point for anyone interested in reading George Herriman‘s Krazy Kat strip. This collects the longest running storyline and was originally collected by Raw Magazine in the 80s. From the sound of it this story is Krazy!

5) X-Factor Forever #1

This is a five part mini-series where Louise Simonson is picking up where her 1986 series left off. I have really been enjoying the mutant related one-shots and mini-serieses as of late. And I am a big fan of Simonson (and her husband) so I am looking forward to giving this a read!

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Super Hero Squad #3

This cover rocks! Literally.

2) Breaking Into Comics the Marvel Way #1

Breaking Into Comics the Marvel Way is a two issue series that showcases 12 new artists that C.B. Cebulski found during his many excursions as a talent scout. The stories are written by some of the top writers at Marvel. If you are interested in getting into the industry you should really follow Cebulski on Twitter. He is incredible informative and entertaining. And he is always tweeting about food. I want to hang out with him and eat cheeseburgers!

3) Batgirl #8

I have been hearing some really good things about Batgirl. This issue is the first part of a crossover with Red Robin (part two is in Red Robin #10 which is also out today). I enjoy team-up issues so I am going to give this crossover a read!

4) Wonderful Wizard of OZ #1 MGC

MGC = Marvel’s Greatest Comics. Marvel is reprinting some of their best issues and selling them for only $1. First up is Wonderful Wizard of Oz #1. Awesome issue! Thor #1 (JMS run) and Captain America #1 (Brubaker run) are due out soon.

5) WWE Heroes #1

The debut issue of WWE Heroes is full of wrasslin’ action with art by the illustrious Andy Smith!