Comics: The top 20 sales estimates for September 2017

Legacy, Metal, Venomverse and Harley Quinn’s anniversary make the list of top-ordered comics for the start of this year’s fall season.

The Top 20

"1(QTY) — 1($) — Marvel Legacy #1 (Marvel) — 298,242"

Commentary: At almost 300,000 copies, Marvel Legacy #1 becomes the best-selling (or at least most ordered) single issue comic book of the year. There are reasons, however, how this came about beyond having lots of promotion behind it. If you look at the Marvel Legacy #1 wiki page, along with the order forms at Midtown Comics and 4ColorBeast.com, this one issue has more than twenty different variants. Moreover, some variants required retailers to order regular editions of Marvel Legacy #1 at more than “200% of [their orders for] Secret Empire #6.”

These figures also include the much publicized and controversial “Lenticular Edition” cover. Unlike DC’s Batman/The Flash crossover, “The Button,” and Action Comics‘ “The Oz Effect,” the price for the lenticular edition of Marvel Legacy #1 is the same as the regular edition and thus isn’t listed as a separate entry in the Direct Market estimates. In short, Marvel’s success with Legacy #1 is another case of excessive ordering by retailers, which may or may not meet real market demand.

"2(QTY) — 2($) — Dark Nights: Metal #2 (DC) — 149,487 (-42.94%)196(QTY) — 185($) — Dark Nights: Metal #1 (DC) — 9,111*June 2017: 2(QTY) — 2($) — Dark Days: The Forge #1 (DC) — 130,651July 2017: 1(QTY) — 2($) — Dark Days: The Casting #1 (DC) — 128,261 (-1.86%)August 2017: 1(QTY) — 1($) — Dark Nights: Metal #1 (DC) — 261,997 (+104.26%)**Total Number: Dark Nights: Metal #1 (DC) — 271,108"

Commentary: Like last month’s Dark Nights: Metal #1, issue #2 also includes multiple variants along with the regular cover. The difference is it doesn’t have nearly the glut of exclusive covers like issue #1 had. Neither will issue #3, for that matter. Thus far, having estimates well above 100K this early is par for the course as far as line-wide events go. It also looks as though the reprint of Dark Nights: Metal #1, at just over 9,000 copies, did all right this month, too.

"3(QTY) — 3($) — Venomverse #1 (Marvel) — 105,398 (+159.93%) 20(QTY) — 24($) — Venomverse #2 (Marvel) — 57,279 (+75.63%) 22(QTY) — 25($) — Venomverse #3 (Marvel) — 55,111 (-3.78%) 23(QTY) — 26($) — Venomverse #4 (Marvel) — 53,945 (-2.12%)71(QTY) — 40($) — Venomverse: War Stories #1 (Marvel) — 32,614 (-69.06%)June 2017: 7(QTY) — 5($) — Edge of Venomverse #1 (Marvel) — 98,052July 2017: 24(QTY) — 18($) — Edge of Venomverse #2 (Marvel) — 50,128 (-48.88%)July 2017: 33(QTY) — 23($) — Edge of Venomverse #3 (Marvel) — 42,167 (-15.88%)August 2017: 36(QTY) — 26($) — Edge of Venomverse #4 (Marvel) — 41,274 (-2.12%)August 2017: 41(QTY) — 31($) — Edge of Venomverse #5 (Marvel) — 40,548 (-1.76%)"

Commentary: For clarification’s sake, since Venomverse #1 and Venomverse: War Stories #1 came out the same week, the 69.06% drop is based on the difference those two issues, while Venomverse #2’s 75.63% increase stems from War Stories. All the same, this Venom-based event settles quite comfortably into the mid-to-low 50K range after the first issue. I suspect issue #5 will do the same. Perhaps if Venomverse didn’t all but come out in the same month, it’s estimates may have been a little higher.

"4(QTY) — 7($) — Batman vol. 3 #30 (DC) — 100,083 (-0.70%) 5(QTY) — 9($) — Batman vol. 3 #31 (DC) — 98,594 (-1.49%)August 2017: 2(QTY) — 7($) — Batman vol. 3 #28 (DC) — 104,666 (+2.20%)August 2017: 3(QTY) — 8($) — Batman vol. 3 #29 (DC) — 100,787 (-3.71%)September 2016: 1(QTY) — 4($) — Batman vol. 3 #6 (DC) — 138,853 (-2.31%)September 2016: 3(QTY) — 5($) — Batman vol. 3 #7 (DC) — 135,585 (-2.35%)-27.28% after one year."

Commentary: As I suspected from last time, we did see at least one issue of Batman fall below 100K this month. Even so, this title, as it’s had for several years now, continues performing well on a consistent basis month after-month. Also, given the news that Catwoman accepts Batman’s proposal of marriage in Batman vol. 3 #32, it wouldn’t surprise me if orders for that particular issue skyrocket.

"6(QTY) — 4($) — Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special #1 (DC) — 97,211"

Commentary: It’s amazing to think how the Joker’s love-struck moll has not only become hugely popular, but is now an anti-hero in her own right. We also forget Dr. Harleen Quinzel was originally exclusive to Batman: The Animated Series and was only introduced into the comics seven years after the cartoon first debuted. Thus if we only count the comics, this is more like Harley Quinn’s 18th Anniversary. Doesn’t really matter, though. Her special underscores how she’s become DC’s most popular female character by far.

"7(QTY) — 15($) — The Walking Dead #171 (Image) — 84,239 (+27.92%)August 2017: 11(QTY) — 20($) — The Walking Dead #170 (Image) — 65,855 (-3.02%)September 2016: 6(QTY) — 13($) — The Walking Dead #158 (Image) — 94,316 (-3.45%)-10.68% after one year."

Commentary: Looks like the theory about a possible correlation between The Walking Dead comic and The Walking Dead TV shows has some merit. Season 3, Part 2 of Fear the Walking Dead began during the month of September, and there’s a sizable increase in retail orders for the comic. If the television series does impact how retailers order the comics, then it’s possible figures for issue #172 could be just as high or potentially higher. We shall see.

"8(QTY) — 5($) — Batman: The Red Death #1 (DC) — 81,904 9(QTY) — 6($) — Batman: The Murder Machine #1 (DC) — 78,202 (-4.52%)"

Commentary: I’m still not completely thrilled with the idea that Dark Nights: Metal’s antagonists are evil versions of Batman with the powers of various Justice League members. This doesn’t other folks aren’t, as these are impressive enough numbers for these first of series of tie-in one-shots. I am curious though as to whether each tie-in’s estimates will decrease from the last, or fluctuate depending on who’s profiled.

"10(QTY) — 11($) — Action Comics #987 Lenticular Edition (DC) — 71,550 (+76.20%)*99(QTY) — 118($) — Action Comics #987 Regular Edition (DC) — 25,317 (-37.65%)* 12(QTY) — 13($) — Action Comics #988 Lenticular Edition (DC) — 66,335 (-7.29%)*101(QTY) — 120($) — Action Comics #988 Regular Edition (DC) — 24,968 (-1.38%)*August 2017: 39(QTY) — 60($) — Action Comics #985 (DC) — 41,014 (-0.13%)August 2017: 40(QTY) — 61($) — Action Comics #986 (DC) — 40,607 (-0.99%)September 2016: 32(QTY) — 45($) — Action Comics #963 (DC) — 60,824 (-5.44%)September 2016: 35(QTY) — 49($) — Action Comics #964 (DC) — 58,439 (-3.92%)*Total Numbers: Action Comics #987 (DC) — 96,867; Action Comics #988 (DC) — 91,303-11.90% after one year."

Commentary: As you can see, combining the totals from the lenticular and regular editions together would make both Action Comics issues the 7th and 8th top comics for the month. The lenticular editions may also account for why the numbers for the regular edition were so drastically low. No doubt retailers assumed their customers would rather pick up the higher-priced lenticular cover than the regular cover.

"11(QTY) — 10($) — Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma #1 (Marvel) — 71,339"

Commentary: Let’s be honest–Captain Phasma was the Boba Fett of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She looked cool, but didn’t do anything but stand around and talk tough. That said, it looks like she’ll have a greater role in The Last Jedi based off the recent trailer. In any case, it’s a Star Wars comic promoting the new film, so of course retailers would order enough copies of it.

"13(QTY) — 14($) — Star Wars vol. 2 #36 (Marvel) — 64,899 (-1.58%)August 2017: 9(QTY) — 11($) — Star Wars vol. 2 #34 (Marvel) — 66,628 (-11.12%)August 2017: 10(QTY) — 12($) — Star Wars vol. 2 #35 (Marvel) — 65,943 (-1.03%)September 2016: 15(QTY) — 7($) — Star Wars vol. 2 #23 (Marvel) — 82,570 (-3.00%)-21.40% after one year."

Commentary: Not too drastic a drop between the last issue and this one, as the comic is still floating near the mid-60K margins. With Star Wars vol. 2 #37 being Jason Aaron’s last issue (with Kieron Gillen taking over the reigns), and The Last Jedi mere months away, it’s possible there could be some small spikes in the coming months. Not to mention Marvel may try to make a big deal out of issue #40.

"14(QTY) — 8($) — Secret Empire: Omega #1 (Marvel) — 60,188 (-30.11%)236(QTY) — 232($) — Secret Empire #10 (Marvel) — 6,230*April 2017: 1(QTY) – 1($) – Secret Empire #0 (Marvel) – 162,718*May 2017: 1(QTY) – 2($) – Secret Empire #1 (Marvel) – 157,517 (-3.20%)May 2017: 6(QTY) – 4($) – Secret Empire #2 (Marvel) – 100,983 (-35.89%)May 2017: 8(QTY) – 6($) – Secret Empire #3 (Marvel) – 91,611 (-9.28%)May 2017: 280(QTY) — 259($) — Secret Empire #0 (Marvel) — 6,033*June 2017: 8(QTY) — 7($) — Secret Empire #4 (Marvel) — 91,621 (+0.01%)June 2017: 9(QTY) — 9($) — Secret Empire #5 (Marvel) — 87,675 (-4.31%)July 2017: 5(QTY) — 3($) — Secret Empire #6 (Marvel) — 85,887 (-2.04%)July 2017: 6(QTY) — 5($) — Secret Empire #7 (Marvel) — 81,365 (-5.27%)August 2017: 6(QTY) — 3($) — Secret Empire #8 (Marvel) — 81,488 (+0.15%)August 2017: 7(QTY) — 5($) — Secret Empire #9 (Marvel) — 77,072 (-5.42%)August 2017: 4(QTY) — 2($) — Secret Empire #10 (Marvel) — 86,123 (+11.74%)**Total Numbers: Secret Empire #0 (Marvel) — 168,751; Secret Empire #10 (Marvel) — 92,353-63.01% or -64.33% after twelve issues."

Commentary: And with that, Secret Empire is finally, officially and mercifully over. A pretty stark comparison, too, when we compare the estimates for issue #0 with the Omega issue. This isn’t all that surprising, though. Being an epilogue issue, it probably never would be as high as Secret Empire #10 in the rankings. Moreover, for a company line-wide event setting up Marvel’s new direction over the coming year, Secret Empire had drastic diminishing returns.

"15(QTY) — 18($) — Star Wars: Darth Vader vol. 2 #5 (Marvel) — 59,477 (+1.88%)August 2017: 14(QTY) — 15($) — Star Wars: Darth Vader #4 (Marvel) — 58,380 (-1.91%)"

Commentary: The almost two-percent increase from last month could be a sign of some readers giving this second Darth Vader series another look. Previous issues did receive second printings, so perhaps retailers adjusted their orders accordingly. Could it be possible for this comic to crack above 60K next issue? Perhaps, but I think it more likely it will linger in the high 50K for a little longer.

"16(QTY) — 12($) — Generations: Miles Morales Spider-Man & Peter Parker Spider-Man #1 (Marvel) — 59,033 (+41.54%) 28(QTY) — 19($) — Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 (Marvel) — 51,136 (+13.46%) 31(QTY) — 21($) — Generations: Sam Wilson Captain America & Steve Rogers Captain America #1 (Marvel) — 50,413 (-14.60%) 43(QTY) — 28($) — Generations: Ms. Marvel & Ms. Marvel #1 (Marvel) — 41,709 (+5.45%) 51(QTY) — 29($) — Generations: Captain Marvel & Captain Mar-Vell (Marvel) — 39,555 (-22.65%)158(QTY) — 406($) — Generations: Hawkeye & Hawkeye #1 (Marvel) — 12,738*August 2017: 13(QTY) — 10($) — Generations: Banner Hulk & Totally Awesome Hulk #1 (Marvel) — 61,311August 2017: 16(QTY) — 13($) — Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey #1 (Marvel) — 55,972 (-8.71%)August 2017: 5(QTY) — 4($) — Generations: Wolverine & All-New Wolverine #1 (Marvel) — 85,688 (+53.09%)August 2017: 8(QTY) — 6($) — Generations: Unworthy Thor & Mighty Thor #1 (Marvel) — 76,400 (-10.84%)August 2017: 28(QTY) — 18($) — Generations: Hawkeye & Hawkeye #1 (Marvel) — 45,069 (-41.01%)**Total Number: Generations: Hawkeye & Hawkeye #1 (Marvel) — 57,807-17.77% after ten issues."

Commentary: Unlike last month, not a single issue of Generations went above 60K. If any one of them would have done it, you’d think it’d be Spider-Man. Based on these figures, though, it looks as though orders for the remaining five issues were adjusted downward based off presumably poor in-store sales from the first five. The only one, thus far, which even benefited from multiple printings was Generations: Hawkeye & Hawkeye. Looks as though readers weren’t all that enthusiastic towards the anthology the more they heard about it.

"17(QTY) — 20($) — Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #32 (Marvel) — 58,885 (+8.84%)August 2017: 18(QTY) — 17($) — Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #31 (Marvel) — 54,102 (-4.34%)September 2016: 24(QTY) — 12($) — Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #18 (Marvel) — 71,159 (-4.95%)-17.25% after one year."

Commentary: There are two possible explanations behind the sales bump for Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #32. The first is that it’s the last issue of volume 4 before the comic returns to its original numbering with issue #789. The second is September was also “Venomized Variant Month,” where various alternate covers depict notable Marvel characters donning the Venom symbiote. This year, it was the villains’ turn. That’s likely what really saved Amazing Spider-Man from falling into the low-50K range again.

"18(QTY) — 23($) — Astonishing X-Men vol. 4 #3 (Marvel) — 57,539 (+12.05%)August 2017: 22(QTY) — 19($) — Astonishing X-Men vol. 4 #2 (Marvel) — 51,353 (-58.00%)"

Commentary: Like Amazing Spider-Man, the Venomized Villain Variant cover may account for the increase in Astonishing X-Men‘s estimates. Of course, there’s also the fact Astonishing X-Men vol. 4 #3 had slightly more variant covers than Astonishing X-Men vol. 4 #2 did. Since Astonishing X-Men vol. 4 #4 only has one variant, don’t be surprised if we see a sizable drop during the month of October. Nevertheless, this title definitely surpassed X-Men: Gold as the flagship X-Men book.

"19(QTY) — 22($) — Teen Titans vol. 6 #12 (DC) — 57,359 (+71.56%)August 2017: 62(QTY) — 49($) — Teen Titans vol. 6 #11 (DC) — 33,434 (-5.30%)September 2016: 118(QTY) — 147($) — Teen Titans vol. 5 #24 (DC) — 19,540 (+2.15%)+193.55% after one year."

Commentary: If you want to know how Teen Titans shot up the charts, take a look at the blurb on the cover. Yep, it’s a Dark Nights: Metal tie-in, part one of “Gotham Resistance” to be exact. This is also why both Nightwing and Suicide Squad have also seen increases from the 30Ks to 50Ks this month, too. Most likely, all three titles will fall back down to where they were once the October sales estimates are tabulated.

Notable Mentions

"25(QTY) — 43($) — The Flash vol. 5 #30 — 52,905 (+0.16%)27(QTY) — 45($) — The Flash vol. 5 #31 — 52,412 (-0.93%)August 2017: 19(QTY) — 30($) — The Flash vol. 5 #28 (DC) — 54,076 (+0.47%)August 2017: 21(QTY) — 33($) — The Flash vol. 5 #29 (DC) — 52,819 (-2.32%)September 2016: 13(QTY) — 19($) — The Flash vol. 5 #6 (DC) — 82,930 (-0.66%)September 2016: 18(QTY) — 24($) — The Flash vol. 5 #7 (DC) — 78,057 (-5.88%)-32.85% after one year."

Commentary: Still looking very stable for The Flash, though at its current rate, it may not stay in the low 50K margins for long. And I’m not talking about how issue #33 will likely get a bump from being a Dark Nights: Metal tie-in.

"42(QTY) — 36($) — Mister Miracle #2 (DC) — 41,575 (+24.13%)August 2017: 60(QTY) — 50($) — Mister Miracle vol. 4 #1 (DC) — 33,493"

Commentary: Both overwhelmingly positive reviews and print copies selling out in stores account for why Mister Miracle‘s sudden rise in the charts. This genuinely looks like it’s shaping up as this year’s bigger sleeper hit in comics.

"50(QTY) — 74($) — Saga #47 (Image) — 40,582 (-1.90%)August 2017: 34(QTY) — 56($) — Saga #46 (Image) — 41,368 (-2.08%)September 2016: 55(QTY) — 71($) — Saga #38 (Image) — 48,106 (-3.81%)-15.64% after one year."

Commentary: Image Comics’ second most popular title probably could be generating higher estimates were it not for the gaps in-between story arcs. Nevertheless, it continues its reputation as a favorite comic independent comics fans.

"61(QTY) — 60($) — Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #5 (Marvel) — 34,232 (-6.02%)July 2017: 8(QTY) — 4($) — Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #1 (Marvel) — 74,006July 2017: 31(QTY) — 22($) — Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #2 (Marvel) — 42,326 (-42.81%)August 2017: 46(QTY) — 36($) — Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #3 (Marvel) — 38,692 (-8.59%)August 2017: 51(QTY) — 44($) — Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #4 (Marvel) — 36,425 (-5.86%)-53.74% after five issues."

Commentary: Looks like Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again ended up as a somewhat adequate miniseries in terms of its sales. What’s funny is this alternate version of Deadpool actually did better sales-wise than the in-continuity Deadpool comic.

"75(QTY) — 70($) — Star Wars: Poe Dameron #19 (Marvel) — 31,887 (-4.65%)August 2017: 61(QTY) — 51($) — Star Wars: Poe Dameron #18 (Marvel) — 33,443 (-2.35%)September 2016: 49(QTY) — 37($) — Star Wars: Poe Dameron #6 (Marvel) — 50,275 (-4.38%)-36.57% after one year."

Commentary: Here’s another Star Wars comic which I think could get an uptick in sales estimates the month The Last Jedi comes out in theaters. Though since this is still a prequel series to The Force Awakens, Marvel might want to think about updating it.

"100 (QTY) — 90($) — Nightwing: The New Order #2 (DC) — 25,027 (-23.03%)August 2017: 65(QTY) — 53($) — Nightwing: The New Order #1 (DC) — 32,515"

Commentary: Despite this miniseries about an alternate future Dick Grayson eliminating the world’s superpowers garnering positive reviews, it looks like only a smidgen are buying. Looks like it’s one those books fans are trade-waiting on.

Next: Number Crunching: the top 20 comics sales estimates for August 2017

Those are our top twenty and a few notable picks for September 2017. Where do think these titles will rank on the list for next month? Do you believe Marvel Legacy #1, based on its content, deserves its place as the number one comic of the year? And what do you think about Dark Nights: Metal and its tie-in’s placement on the charts. Feel free to voice your opinions and predictions

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Number Crunching: The top 20 comics sales estimates for September 2017

By Mike McNulty | Oct 13, 2017

Legacy, Metal, Venomverse and Harley Quinn’s anniversary make the list of top-ordered comics for the start of this year’s fall season.

The Top 20

Notable Mentions