June’s Comic Sales: All About Watchmen

A betting person would have been smart to bet that Before Watchmen was going to take the top four spots in the top ten for June.  But lo and behold, Avengers vs X-Men beat it out.  What comes as a surprise to me, Avengers vs X-Men took the top two spots, and Batman #11 took the third.  Spider-Men makes the top ten as well.  Here is the rest of the top ten comics for June 2012:

1. Avengers vs X-Men #6

2. Avengers vs X-Men #5

3. Batman #10

4. Justice League #10

5. Before Watchmen Minutemen #1

6. Before Watchmen Comedian #1

7. Before Watchmen Silk Spectre #1

8. Before Watchmen Nite Owl #1

9. Spider-Men #1

10. AVX VS #3

With Before Watchmen jumping into the top ten, the spots right beneath it are those that have been making the top ten for the past few months.  Books like Detective Comics, Action Comics, and Uncanny X-Men.  Astonishing X-Men #51, the wedding issue, sold very well.  But don’t expect it to be that high next month.  I expect a few readers to stay on, but it won’t sell as much next month.  Hit-Girl sold very well, which shows a second Kick-Ass movie would still do well. Daredevil is up almost 3,000 issues.

The majority of the top 100 goes back and forth between DC and Marvel.  Marvel made more money, but DC sold more comics.  This has been the general trend for some time, as Marvel has more $3.99 books.  I look at the trends, and books that aren’t selling well continue to have trouble, while books that sell great just get more readers.  Defenders has to worry Marvel, as they were hoping for this series to be the next big franchise.  But it’s near the bottom of the list.  The same goes with Punisher. It’s holding steady, so it should be ok.  Deadpool has taken a dive in the past few months.

Whenever I look at how DC’s books are selling, I always wonder which ones will get the ax next.  Green Arrow isn’t selling well at all.  DC needs to change that fast, as the TV show is just around the corner.  Second Wave book The Ravagers is having trouble gaining a fan base.  Otherwise, the DC books are selling enough to not be worried cancellation.  I’d like Dial H to start doing better, as that is one of the better books at DC right now.

The Walking Dead was the highest selling book for Image, and it made it to 30.  Mars Attacks is the highest for IDW, and that is at 44.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #10 is at 89.  For a series that has such a devoted fan base, it’s strange to see no one buying the issues.  If you are a fan of Buffy, go buy the freakin’ series.

As we look forward to July’s sales, expect The Walking Dead #100 to be the top comic, or damn near close to it.  Any of the Before Watchmen series that have #1s left will make the top ten next month, but I expect the #2s to go down.  It happens with any book, but these have a collectors value to them.  #2s aren’t worth as much, so not as many people will buy them.  AVX VS will continue to sell well, which surprises me.  It was one of the most criticized things when Avenger vs X-Men was announced.  But people are eating it up.  With no high profile #1s coming out in July, the top 100 should stay the same.  Once August comes, we will get Hawkeye and Gambit.  Hawkeye will probably do as well as Daredevil or Invincible Iron Man.  Selling between 20,000-30,000 issues.  Good numbers, if not very strong.  Gambit is going to have a hard time selling.  Unless the critics shower it with praise (which is entirely possible, as James Asmus is a great writer), it will probably be closer to the bottom half of the top 100.

The top 100 isn’t going to change until the Marvel NOW! initiative in October.  When there are a bunch of new titles comics, and others ending.  That will probably have the same effect that the DC 52 had in 2011.  And with Avengers coming out on Blu-Ray/DVD, people might be more inclined to buy the comics.

In the graphic novel section, The Walking Dead continues to reign supreme.  League of Extraordinary Gentlemen made it into the top three.  No surprise that Watchmen was in the top ten graphic novels as well.  Morning Glories continues to sell well in in trades.  Much like The Walking Dead, it’s a series that many like to read in bulk.  Fatale sold well in trade form as well.

Click here for the list of unit share and dollar share, as well as top ten comics and graphic novels.

Click here for the top 100 comics for June

• Bio
• Latest Posts

MrComicBook

Senior Writer, Entertainment Reviewer & Editor at ComicBookTherapy

Kevin Finnigan is long time comic fan. He studied American History in college, wanting to become a teacher. As you can see, it didn't work out. He reads books by all the big publishers, and dabbles in indie publishers as well.

Latest posts by MrComicBook (see all)

• Preview: The First Kingdom Vol 1: The Birth of Tundran - May 24, 2013
• Review: The Bounce #1 - May 22, 2013

Sources :

• http://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/597?articleID=122598
• http://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/597?articleID=123306