The Top 300 Selling Comics For November 2003

This list comes from digging through sales figures, asking too many questions and using Diamond Comics information. The snotty comments in white By Cory!!

1 JLA/AVENGERS #3 (OF 4) $5.95 MAR 148,196

Down a bit from last month, and the shops I know of still have some on the stands. Still, these are pretty solid numbers for a $6 book, and it looks great. Should be fun when it is collected.

2 MARVEL 1602 #4 (Of 8) $3.50 MAR 122,683

Getting good reviews, selling quite well, and sure to be a trade paperback the month after the last issue comes out, so I will read it then.

3 WOLVERINE THE END #1 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 116,209

This is the way Wolverine will die...Folks, as long as comic books are published, Wolverine will be around. Marvel's "The End" series have been a mixed bag. The one for The Hulk was really good, the one for the whole Marvel Universe turned out to be a cheat and I can't remember the one they did for the Avengers.

4 ULTIMATE SIX #4 (Of 6) $2.25 MAR 105,978

Another mini-series by Bendis, which I will read as a trade. And while comic sales are pretty good up on the top end, the top 4 books are "special events" that will be over before summer hits, and when you take them away, sales are pretty much where they have been for the past 3 years.

5 ULTIMATE X-MEN #39 $2.25 MAR 105,737

Bendis again, showing how to write a long story that doesn't FEEL like it's padded or taking up too much space. This is the first story arc on Ultimate X-Men I have read as it came out, and each issue is well worth my time. Highly recommended for super-hero fans.

6 NEW X-MEN #149 $2.25 MAR 102,591

Grant Morrison spends this issue showing Magento's problems after conquering New York, tying up plot threads and giving casual dialogue that shows he has put more thought into this super-hero comic than most people put into so-called art comics. This is one of the best super-hero books Marvel has ever done, and has as many strange and wonderful ideas flowing out of it as a Jack Kirby book. If you like super-hero stuff, New X-Men is a comic you should be reading. Highly recommended.

7 BATMAN #621 $2.25 DC 96,784

The new creative team (from 100 Bullets) will probably lose sales as they go along, which is a shame, since this story is MUCH better written than "Hush" and has art that suits the dark streets of Gotham better than Jim Lee's overly scratchy stuff. Still, it does ask the reader to take a couple of chances, and as such, will not be the mega-hit that Hush was. More's the pity. Highly recommended.

8 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #49 $2.25 MAR 96,707

An issue of Peter Parker reacting to the Kingpin's release. A simple story, and yet very powerful as a super-hero soap opera, with all the over-the-top angst you expect from a teenage super-hero. The best Spider-Man comic on the stands, and almost as good as the old Lee/Ditko stuff. Highly recommended.

9 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #501 (#60) $2.25 MAR 94,558

This one felt like a fill-in story, with Aunt May as the focus. It was a decent enough story, but in the end, a bit of a trifle and one that I could take or leave.

10 UNCANNY X-MEN #433 $2.25 MAR 90,764

Remember all the nice things I said about Chuck Austin when he started writing this comic? I take them all back. On the plus side, the stories ARE clear and less confusing. On the negative side, they STINK. This story, supposedly delving into Nightcrawler's background, is literally the worst thing I have read since Solson comics went out of business. To show that his father is The Devil (or some Marvelized version of it) pretty much makes the character a pointless retread of "Son of Satan" from the 70's, and even less interesting.

11 WOLVERINE #7 $2.25 MAR 78,734
12 WOLVERINE #8 $2.25 MAR 77,040

Without Darrick Robertson doing the art, this comic has slipped a little, but still, think about it, a Wolverine comic that isn't crap? How long has it been since we could say that? The current story has the same tone of the first story arc, and puts Wolverine in a real crime drama/mystery setting, and highlights just how well writer Greg Rucka is at taking a character, stripping it down to what makes it interesting, and then building a story around the character. Highly recommended.

13 SUPREME POWER #4 (MR) $2.99 MAR 71,620
14 TEEN TITANS #5 $2.50 DC 68,078

I am still kind of amazed this book is doing so well. It's a very standard super-hero team comic, and I don't see a lot of difference between it and the 4 failed Teen Titan series of the 90's. But, if you want to read a very standard super-hero book, you could do a lot worse, I guess.

15 SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #6 $2.25 MAR 67,633
16 SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #7 $2.25 MAR 66,065

Finishing the Gawd Awful Venom story and starting a Dr. Octopus story that is much better but...

It sure doesn't seem much like the Doc Oc from other Spider-Man comics. This must be how he will be in the movie, since what little characterization has been done with the villain in the past seems to be forgotten here. An average comic.

17 X-TREME X-MEN #34 $2.99 MAR 61,574

I think this is probably the scariest thing I have ever read. Chris Claremont ended a story. No. Really. You know that that means that Hell has frozen over, pigs are flying and Madonna will make a good movie, don't you?

18 JLA #90 $2.25 DC 60,093

What if Batman and Wonder Woman dated? Let's hope it wouldn't be half as bad as this horrid comic telling that story was.

19 AVENGERS #73 $2.25 MAR 58,177

OK, the story is call "The Search For The She-Hulk" and she shows up at the end of the first issue of the story? SEARCH IS OVER! The rest of the story is a rather pointless fight scene that tries to me more than it really is. I like Geoff Johns' work on DC titles, but it seems that he just can't get the job done on a Marvel book.

20 DAREDEVIL #54 $2.99 MAR 57,557

David Mack is telling a story that most comic readers will not be able to follow, since his work is very surrealistic and demands the reader to put forth a lot of effort. Still, it sells far better than I ever thought his work could sell, and this issue is very good. Highly recommended for people who don't like super-hero books.

21 AVENGERS #74 $2.25 MAR 57,557
22 HULK GRAY #3 (Of 6) $3.50 MAR 56,135

More of the early story of the Hulk by Leob and Sale. Marvel really screwed up letting these two get away, as their three mini-series for them have all been very good. Highly recommended when it is collected.

23 TRANSFORMERS/GI JOE #3 (Of 6) $2.95 DRE 54,935

Wow, this is the highest-ranking Transformers comic this month? Maybe people are getting smarter. Nah, Bush still has a 60% approval rating, so THAT can't be it.

24 INCREDIBLE HULK #63 $2.25 MAR 53,357

I'm a bit miffed that they brought back Betty Brant, since this Hulk series has spun out of the Hulk's reaction to her death. With her back, it lessens the power of the horror and could turn the comic back into a continuity-laden smashfest. But, I'm willing to see where the story goes.

25 FANTASTIC FOUR #506 (#77) $2.25 MAR 51,721
26 FANTASTIC FOUR #507 (#78) $2.25 MAR 51,179

Waid and Weiringo are doing a great job on this comic, and this story is one of the best super-hero stories of the year as the FF deal with the aftereffects of Dr. Doom's attack on them. It does a great job by introducing just enough "real world" elements into the story to give it a solid foundation, but keeps the super-hero stuff so that it still feels like an old Lee/Kirby comic. Highly recommended.

27 OUTSIDERS #6 $2.50 DC 48,160

Another DC team book that is selling really well, but seems pretty darn average to me. Shows what I know.

28 THANOS #2 $2.99 MAR 45,769

More 70's nostalgia, and if you liked Jim Starlin's stuff from back then, you'll like it now, since he hasn't changed a whole lot. Oddly, in the 70's, his stuff was considered too far out for mainstream comics, and he was bringing the "hippie underground vibe" to super-hero books. Now, he's just going through the same themes in a comics world that has seen massive improvements in storytelling.

29 JSA #54 $2.50 DC 45,169

DC's best straight super-hero team comic, and this holiday themed issued was a lot of fun to read. Highly recommended.

30 NYX #2 $2.99 MAR 44,404

I have now read the first two issues, and there is nothing new here, other than the setting. It is a VERY typical super-hero coming of age story, with mosh pits and teenaged girls having sex to try and get the 30ish comics fans all excited over it. The only thing I can say is EW!

31 TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN VOL 2 #2 $2.95 DRE 43,253
32 CAPTAIN AMERICA #20 $2.99 MAR 41,143
33 FORMERLY KNOWN A/T JUSTICE LEAGUE #5 (Of 6) $2.50 DC 40,369

This comic is a lot of fun, tells a great story and has incredible art. No, it's not just nostalgia talking, it's the fact that the creative team is still very talented (and Kevin McGuire is an artist who should have never been allowed to leave comics). The mini-series has sold well enough for a sequel, and I hope DC keeps supporting it, since a comic this well done should be printed as long as the creative teams still want to do it. Highly Recommended.

34 EXILES #37 $2.99 MAR 40,272

The start of a new story, following the evil version of the Exiles team, featuring a story by Chuck Austin that isn't as bad as his work on Uncanny X-Men, and could be interesting. The team decides that instead of completing their assignment and moving on to the next alternate reality, they will just take over the one they are in. As I said, could be interesting, but with only 3 issues to tell the story, I doubt it will rival such similar stories as "Squadron Supreme."

35 JLA Z #2 (Of 3) $2.50 DC 40,107

Another version of "Who's Who" which gives everyone a chance to look at pin ups of super heroes and read pseudo scientific explanations of their powers. I'm amazed it sold this well because I was bored stiff when this sort of thing was done back in the 80's.

36 SPIDER-MAN/DR OCTOPUS OUT O/REACH #1 (OF 5) $2.99 MAR 39,807

Another Doc Oc mini series so that Marvel will have a few trade paperbacks available when the second Spider-Man movie comes out. I haven't read it, and will wait for the aforementioned trades, which pisses off John Byrne. BUT HE'S NOT THE BOSS OF ME!

37 SUPERMAN BIRTHRIGHT #5 (Of 12) $2.95 DC 39,749

Mark Waid's look at the first years of Superman, and it is selling better than all of the mainline Superman comics. This is odd because most mini-series sell fewer than the regular comic they are spun out of, and Mark Waid's revamp of Superman around 1999 was rejected by DC.

38 EMMA FROST #5 $2.50 MAR 39,527
39 PUNISHER #36 $2.99 MAR 39,217

Punisher vs Daredevil, Wolverine and Spider-Man, and if you take any of this issue seriously, you need to get out and breathe the fresh air once in a while. This will wrap up Garth Ennis's "dark humor" run on the title, and when it is relaunched, it will be treated as a serious action comics. Ennis can do the serious action stuff quite well, but the Punisher is SUCH an "Over the top" character, the humor approach worked best IMHO. Still, I'll give the new direction a try, and this one is only mildly recommended, as it just wasn't all that funny.

40 SILVER SURFER #3 (RES) $2.25 MAR 39,081
41 PUNISHER #35 $2.99 MAR 39,081
42 BATMAN/SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN TRINITY #3 $6.95 DC 38,956

Matt Wagner, one of my favorite artists in comics, finishes his Big mini-series, which is going to be collected in a hard cover later this year. The art is just amazing in its power and simplicity and he has a far better grasp of the main three characters than most people who have worked on them. Highly recommended.

43 GI JOE #23* $2.95 IMA 38,849
44 NEW MUTANTS #7 $2.50 MAR 38,830
45 GREEN ARROW #32 $2.50 DC 38,385

Slowly sliding into mediocrity.

46 GI JOE #24* $2.95 IMA 38,123
47 DETECTIVE COMICS #788 $2.75 DC 37,543

The new creative team has NOT impressed me, even though the backups have gotten a lot better. I tend to let this comic sit around until I have about 5 or 6 in a row now, and when I read them, I'm just not impressed.

48 MYSTIQUE #8 (RES) $2.99 MAR 37,097
49 SPAWN #130 $2.50 IMA 37,030

I talked to someone at the local comic shop I go to who buys this and asked THEM if they read the book, and was told that they do...followed by the confession that they hadn't read it since issue #100. I think that is pretty darn standard.

50 SPIDER-MAN & DR OCTOPUS NEGATIVE EXPOSURE #2 $2.99 MAR 36,420
51 VENOM #8 $2.99 MAR 36,400
52 JLA Z #3 (Of 3) $2.50 DC 36,033
53 FLASH #204 $2.25 DC 35,423

So, the "Big change" at the end of issue #200 (no one knows Wally West is The Flash anymore) seems to be unraveling, so rather than a new status quo that could be interesting, it's just the launch of another story arc. I wish someone could explain to me why Geoff Johns is so good on JSA, and his other work just leaves me disappointed.

54 THOR VIKINGS #5 (Of 5) (MR) $3.50 MAR 34,891
55 SUPERMAN #199 $2.25 DC 33,429

When the flagship character of your company, one of the few characters than EVERYONE IN THE WORLD HAS HEARD OF can only sell 33,000 comic books, it's time to make some major changes. I hope DC's creative shift addresses this, because they have let this character just sit there for almost 5 years now. The success of "Smallville" shows that it is still a vital concept, you just have to figure out how to use it.

56 GREEN LANTERN #171 $2.25 DC 32,374

I tried. Really I did. But Grant Morrison seems to be the only creator who can do decent stories with Kyle as Green Lantern. Ben Raab's are a mish-mash of ideas that never seem to come together into coherent plots.

57 JSA ALL STARS #7 (Of 8) (Note Price) $3.50 DC 32,103
58 IRON MAN #74 $2.99 MAR 32,016

So, Tony Stark as the Secretary of Defense. This could be either a very cool idea or an intensely stupid one. We'll see, but at least it has me reading the comic, now doesn't it?

59 THOR #71 $2.99 MAR 31,706
60 WOLVERINE SNIKT #5 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 30,961

A Wolverine mini with Japanese art, and a story that is SUCH a trifle, the collected trade is able to be read cover to cover in less than 10 minutes. Buy the trade if you like the art, but there's not a whole lot of substance here.

61 BIRDS O/PREY #61 $2.50 DC 30,768
62 STREET FIGHTER #3* $2.95 IMA 30,690
63 X-STATIX #15 $2.99 MAR 30,042

While the current story isn't up to their normal heights, it's still more thoughtful than most comics. X-Statix looks like a retro super-hero book, but in reality it is a massive satire on pop culture, the media and our own insanity when it comes to famous people. I can understand why some comics fans don't like the book...I don't AGREE with them, but I can understand it. I, however, highly recommend it.

64 ACTION COMICS #809 $2.25 DC 29,819
65 NIGHTWING #87 $2.25 DC 29,674

Blah blah blah. This comic is really becoming more and more of a chore to read. I KNOW that Devin Grayson has waited her whole professional life to write this book, but don't you think that if you've been waiting your whole life to do something, you'd be better at it?

66 BATMAN DEATH & MAIDENS #4 (Of 9) $2.95 DC 29,413
67 BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #47 $2.75 DC 29,413
68 TEEN TITANS GO #1 $2.25 DC 29,055

Based on the surprisingly good cartoon series, and I'm a bit surprised that this tie-in book sold this well. I don't think it will last, since the comic is much like most TV tie-ins, put together by whoever was around the office looking for work.

69 WONDER WOMAN #198 $2.25 DC 28,977
70 MICHAEL TURNER PRESENTS ASPEN #2 (Of 3)* $2.99 ASP 28,832

Now, it was my understanding that Michael Turner was a VERY HOT ARTIST, and with him starting on Batman/Superman soon, he would have massive sales. I haven't much cared for his work, since he's in the Top Cow "Big breast" style of art where every woman had the same chest(huge) nose (tiny) and lips (huge).

71 TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #17 $2.95 DRE 28,658
72 X-STATIX #16 $2.99 MAR 28,251
73 ALIAS #28 (MR) $2.99 MAR 28,125

Final issue, and in a way, I'm glad. Bendis has taken the character full circle and told a complete story over the 28 issues. This was Marvel's first "adult" comic, and there really isn't a way the story could have been told without the "adults only" part of it. It was a great comic, one Marvel couldn't have done 10 years ago. If you haven't read the comic, Marvel will be publishing the whole thing in trade paperbacks, so pick it up. Highly recommended.

74 SUPERMAN/THUNDERCATS $5.95 DC 28,019

The Thundercats revival just hasn't been quite as big a hit as people thought, Superman is on the downturn, did ANYONE think that combining the two would make for a hit? Maybe with the price, it was successful enough, but just leafing through it, it was a complete mess. I think Marvel has the right idea, amazingly enough, when they say that they are holding off on intercompany crossovers until they get a REALLY good one.

75 HAWKMAN #21 $2.50 DC 27,642
76 HAWKEYE #2 $2.99 MAR 27,574

The art is pretty darn bad, and the story isn't much better. I don't think this comic will last much past 12 issues, and I won't read it much past this one.

77 WEAPON X #15 $2.99 MAR 27,516
78 Y THE LAST MAN #16 (RES) (MR) $2.95 DC 27,448

I buy it as trade paperbacks. I'm still kind of amazed that this book is considered a "hit" when it sells just a few hundred copies more than "bombing" Adventures of Superman.

79 ADVS O/SUPERMAN #622 $2.25 DC 27,254
80 BATGIRL #46 $2.50 DC 27,167
81 LEGION #26 $2.50 DC 26,635

The new story is almost like a breath of fresh air in this series, although it's a bit too late for the creative team. The writers have been sort of floundering around, but now they are doing a Darkseid story (which every creative team feels they need to do at some point or another) and is a VERY direct rip-off of "Great Darkness Saga", but is at least interesting to read. But, they will be leaving after this story arc, so I would jump in on with this one if you've ever wanted to try the Legion and see if you like it.

82 CATWOMAN #25 $2.50 DC 26,345

With the addition of Paul Gulacy...ok, the book hasn't changed a whole lot. Gulacy's art is well done, but stiff, as all of his art has been, but the stories are still as good and make the book highly recommended.

83 GI JOE FRONTLINE #16* $2.95 IMA 26,257
84 POWERS #35 (MR) $2.95 IMA 26,141

Wrapping up the story that shows where the super-heroes in the series have come from, it all makes a kind of sense now. Still highly recommended, and they are going to hit the reset button soon and change the dynamic of the book.

85 FABLES #19 (MR) $2.50 DC 25,948
86 LEGION #27 $2.50 DC 25,667
87 AUTHORITY VOL 2 #7 (MR) $2.95 DC 25,657
88 BATMAN LEGENDS O/T DARK KNIGHT #173 $2.50 DC 25,406
89 GI JOE FRONTLINE #17* $2.95 IMA 25,290
90 SUPERMAN & BATMAN GENERATIONS III #11 (Of 12) $2.95 DC 25,193

Another Byrne series coming to an end, and I have to say that I liked the first two "Generations" mini-series, even though they were both painfully gimmicky and almost required a history lesson to know what was going on in the comics. This one, I decided to just pass on, since the art is down to Byrne's current lazy standard, the lettering looks REALLY bad, and how many times can anyone go to the same well and think they can get fresh water?

91 THUNDERCATS HAMMERHANDS REVENGE #2 (Of 5) $2.95 DC 25,164
92 BATMAN CITY O/LIGHT #2 (Of 8) $2.95 DC 24,399
93 CAPTAIN MARVEL #16 $2.99 MAR 24,399

And with all of the big publicity, the comic has fallen back to its old sales level because this comic really only appeals to the hard core fans of Peter David and his writing style. He's been running a storyline through the comic for over 20 issues (Captain Marvel is CRAZY!) and has been away from the supporting characters for over 2 years.

94 KINGPIN #6 $2.50 MAR 24,302
95 AQUAMAN #12 $2.50 DC 23,993
96 TROUBLE #5 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 23,673

And now it's done. We find out that it WASN'T Peter Parker's parents, all the publicity that it was was a swerve, and Marvel doesn't much care if the comic does well now that the executive who approved it has left the company. It has even been reported that the trade paperback collecting the mini has been canceled.

97 DANGER GIRL VIVA LAS DANGER $4.95 DC 23,431
98 ELEKTRA #29 $2.99 MAR 23,373

The new creative team has a hard act to follow (Both Brian Bendis and Greg Rucka have taken turns on this series), but their work has been good, showing improvement with every issue, and keeps up the unique approach to the character. I would say that if you haven't READ Elektra before, you should pick up the Bendis stuff before trying these issues.

99 DARKNESS VOL 2 #6 $2.99 IMA 23,112
100 SOJOURN #29 $2.95 CRO 23,102

The highest ranking CrossGen comic, and it's prolly because of Greg Land's artwork. Land's work at DC was ok, but he did make a name for himself at CrossGen. It's just too bad that the company hired substandard writers who write more from formula than heart, because it has hurt them.

101 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1 THIRD PRINTING $2.95 DC 22,405

A third printing sells this many copies? WOW! The comic is pretty good, and I think the high sales show a pent up demand for decent Superman comics.

102 EMPIRE #4 (Of 6) (MR) $2.50 DC 22,386

A very good mini-series about a world where the bad guy has won. It's dark, but not dark in a way that makes you depressed, but in a way that actually makes you think about super-hero fights in a new way. Highly recommended.

103 ROBIN #120 $2.25 DC 22,067

The last issue by the current team, and none too soon. The Big Story of the past 5 or 6 issues? It was all a trick. So, the last half-year you have bought this comic has been a waste of your time. Let's hope that the new team can actually put together a decent comic book story.

104 SPIDER-GIRL #66 $2.99 MAR 21,864
105 EMPIRE #5 (Of 6) (MR) $2.50 DC 21,747
106 GHOST I/T SHELL 2 MAN/MACHINE INTERFACE #9 (Of $3.50 DAR 21,341
107 ARROWSMITH #4 (Of 6) $2.95 DC 21,215
108 NAMOR #9 $2.99 MAR 21,167
109 RUNAWAYS #8 (Note Price) $2.99 MAR 20,896

Highly highly recommended.

110 HUMAN TORCH #7 $2.50 MAR 20,857
111 TEEN TITANS #1* $2.50 DC 20,799

More re-orders making this one of the better selling comics in a while. I like it, but I don't think it's good enough for all the attention it's getting. It's just an average super-hero comic.

112 DARK DAYS #5 30 DAYS O/NIGHT SEQUEL (Of 6) (MR) $3.99 IDW 20,276

I think it's kind of funny how some creators rail against the fact that people wait for the trade paperbacks, yet it was a trade paperback that made this book profitable enough to actually do a sequel, because it was WRITTEN as a complete book broken into chapters. The trade of the first one was good, although I didn't care for the art style at all. This one, I'm getting as a trade as well.

113 DOCTOR FATE #4 (Of 5) $2.50 DC 20,238
114 INHUMANS #7 (Note Price) $2.99 MAR 20,063

Canceled soon. Of course, these characters have NEVER sold.

115 DUEL MASTERS #1* $2.95 DRE 19,928
116 LOBO UNBOUND #4 (Of 6) (RES) (MR) $2.95 DC 19,841

Remember the old days when Lobo would boost sales immediately? Not all of the 80's and early 90's reunions are successful, and this one sure isn't. Guess that's what Formerly Known As The Justice League was such a surprise.

117 TOMB RAIDER #35 $2.99 IMA 19,599
118 WITCHBLADE #71 $2.99 IMA 19,415

Building up to the big #75 where a character that the fans have chosen will DIE! I would say that if sales keep going down, the fans have chosen everyone in the comic to die, myself.

119 LEGION SECRET FILES 3003 $4.95 DC 19,231
120 EL CAZADOR #3 $2.95 CRO 19,086

Ahrrr...it be pirates. I picked up the collected version of the first three issues last week, so hopefully I won't think it sucks, but most of the CrossGen stuff has been very well drawn bland comics.

121 SUPERMAN KANSAS SIGHTING #1 $6.95 DC 19,076
122 SENTINEL #9 (Note Price) $2.99 MAR 18,350

Canceled, and while a lot of people have been pretty vocal about the book, I tried it and didn't much care for it. Too derivative and not enough interesting stuff going on for me to get all that excited. Pass.

123 GOTHAM CENTRAL #13 $2.50 DC 18,331

I love this comic, which is prolly why it doesn't sell. However, the current story arc, looking at an attack on Gotham by the Joker when Batman isn't around from the point of view of the police. Highly recommended.

124 TOM STRONG #23 $2.95 DC 18,099

The last couple of issues haven't been by Alan Moore, which means that while they are still good, they aren't as full of inventive asides and moments that seem like they are so simple someone should have thought of them before, but no one ever has. Still, it's a great series with clean art that is always an enjoyable read. Mildly recommended.

125 BPRD THERES SOMETHING UNDER MY BED ONE-SHOT $2.99 DAR 16,666
126 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #1 (Of 5) (MR) $3.50 MVC 16,657

These are supposedly stories written by Mr. Zombie, and while it's a bit hard for me to believe, they are good short horror stories that try to give the same feeling of the old Creepy and Eerie magazines. It's a solid anthology and is mildly recommended for most readers and highly recommended for horror fans.

127 ROBOTECH LOVE & WAR #6 (Of 6) $2.95 DC 16,608
128 SMALLVILLE #5 $3.95 DC 16,502
129 HE MAN & MOTU POWER O/FEAR #1 $2.95 MVC 16,153
130 HERO #10 $2.50 DC 15,815

I discovered this comic through it's trade paperback, and now I'm hooked. The idea, a dial that gives people super powers, is played out in a fresh new fashion here that lets the creative team explore all kinds of ideas. It reminds me of "100 Bullets" except that instead of an untraceable gun, you get a super power. Highly recommended.

131 CRIMSON DYNAMO #3 (RES) (Note Price) $2.50 MAR 15,805
132 HELLBLAZER #190 (MR) $2.75 DC 15,602

Coasting on past glories.

133 TMNT ANIMATED #6 $2.95 DRE 15,282
134 RUSE #25 $2.95 CRO 15,127
135 FRANK MILLERS ROBOCOP #3 (Of 9) (MR)* $3.50 AVA 14,547
136 HARLEY QUINN #38 $2.50 DC 14,305

OK, THIS must be the last issue. The series would have been remembered as a great one if they ended it right before they did the painfully bad "Harley Goes To Hell" story. I don't think ANY story about a character going to hell has ever been any good since Dante did it. And I didn't much core for that one either.

137 MOTU HE-MAN RISE O/T SNAKE MEN #2 (Of 3) $2.95 MVC 14,169
138 BTVS #63 STAKE TO HEART (4 Of 4)* $2.99 DAR 14,130

The last issue of the Buffy series, which never really took off. I think the main reason was that the creative teams never did get the style down quite right, of mixing the horror elements with teen soap opera stuff...which is funny since the TV series always seemed to me like a Chris Claremont comic book come to life.

139 WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #16 (MR) $2.95 DC 14,121
140 FALLEN ANGEL #5 $2.50 DC 13,985
141 SIMPSONS COMICS #88 (Note Price) $2.99 BON 13,879

Still the funniest comic on the stands and still highly recommended.

142 SUPERMAN METROPOLIS #10 (Of 12) $2.95 DC 13,811
143 BONE #53 $2.95 CAR 13,627

As this book limps on to its conclusion, it doesn't have the same feel it used to. In early issues, a LOT was going on, and the art and pacing kept the reader riveted and wanting the next issue. Now, the pacing has slowed to a painful crawl, lots of the story elements of the first 20 or so issues have been completely lost, and there's only two issues to go. It is definitely being done for the book trade now, and as such, I think people should just BUY it as books.

144 LUCIFER #44 (MR) $2.50 DC 13,540
145 LOSERS #6 (MR) $2.95 DC 13,424
146 SOLUS #8 $2.95 CRO 13,347
147 GEN 13 #15 $2.95 DC 13,143

Near the end, and while I didn't like the Chris Claremont stuff, I wish they would have just let Adam Warren write the book and keep with the old numbering, since Warren was the only person who ever made me give a damn about this title.

148 JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVS #25 $2.25 DC 13,105
149 WAY O/T RAT #19 $2.95 CRO 13,037
150 BATMAN ADVS #8 $2.25 DC 12,930
151 BRATH #9 $2.95 CRO 12,872
152 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #2 (Of 5) (MR) $2.95 MVC 12,853

Two issues in one month! Still mildly recommended for most readers and highly recommended for horror fans.

153 CAPER #2 (Of 12) $2.95 DC 12,717
154 DEMON DRIVEN OUT #3 (Of 6) $2.50 DC 12,621
155 SCION #41 $2.95 CRO 12,514
156 HUMAN TARGET #4 (MR) $2.95 DC 12,088
157 PATH #20 $2.95 CRO 11,914
158 GUN THEORY #2 (Of 4) (MR) $2.50 MAR 11,759

Marvel has canceled this mini-series with this issue. So, if you were one of the 11,000 who were reading it, you'll never get to know how it ends. Don't that make you feel dandy?

159 NEGATION #24 $2.95 CRO 11,585
160 BATTLE OF THE PLANETS MANGA #2 (Of 3) $2.99 IMA 11,382
161 STORMWATCH TEAM ACHILLES #17 (MR) $2.95 DC 11,343
162 MEGAMAN #3 $2.95 DRE 11,314

Not bad for a comic based on a game character that hasn't had a decent game in over a decade. Imagine what Archie could do with it!

163 MYSTIC #42 $2.95 CRO 10,995
164 CURSED #2 (Of 4) $2.99 IMA 10,985
165 MERIDIAN #40 $2.95 CRO 10,888
166 TAROT WITCH O/T BLACK ROSE #23 (MR) $2.95 BRO 10,666

At one point, the artist of this comic was selling 60,000 issues of Catwoman a month. Now, he owns this, but it is so twisted that he can barely sell 10K. I guess his kinkiness is more important than money.

167 CRUX #31 $2.95 CRO 10,617
168 CSI BAD RAP #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99 IDW 10,501

This is another comic I buy as trade paperbacks, but I wish the compnay would put more realistic artists on the series. It's just hard to figure out which actor is which sometimes, and when the whole premice of the series is noticing the details, you need an artist who can make those details seem highly realistic. Thankfully Max Allen Collins knows how to put together a mystery, and as the writer of the CSI novels, knows the characters well and does a fantastic job of making each mini-series a bit more special than a regular episode of the TV series. Mildly recommended.

169 ROUTE 666 #17 $2.95 CRO 10,453
170 SIGIL #42 $2.95 CRO 10,433
171 CRUX #32 $2.95 CRO 10,375
172 FIRST #36 $2.95 CRO 10,259
173 ROUTE 666 #18 $2.95 CRO 10,182
174 FIRST #37 $2.95 CRO 10,143

Most of the CrossGen stuff seems to all be lumped in the same part of the sales charts. They are a company that has a very loyal audience, but 10,000 in sales just isn't enough to pay creators a salary, health coverage and a retirement plan. I will be shocked if CrossGen is putting out more than a handful of comics in 2004.

175 SAVAGE DRAGON #112 (RES) $2.95 IMA 10,124
176 KAMIKAZE #2 (Of 5) $2.95 DC 9,746
177 POSSESSED #5 (Of 6) (MR) $2.95 DC 9,436

Either it's the name of the comic, or the next excuse Britney Spears will use to explain why she got married. Hi-yoooo!

178 REIGN O/T ZODIAC #4 $2.75 DC 9,272
179 CASEFILES SAM & TWITCH #5 (MR) $2.50 IMA 9,272

Dear Todd McFarlane, if Brian Michael Bendis isn't going to write this comic, no one is going to read it. Just thought you'd like to know.

180 SLEEPER #11 (MR) $2.95 DC 8,798

Next to last issue, and a damn shame, since this was a great comic. Buy the trade paperbacks when they come out and see what you missed.

181 ALAN MOORES YUGGOTH CULTURES #2 (Of 3) (MR)* $3.95 AVA 8,711
182 EXTINCTION EVENT #5 (Of 5) $2.50 DC 8,672
183 WILDGUARD CASTING CALL #3 (Of 6)* $2.95 IMA 8,565
184 CROSSOVERS #9 $2.95 CRO 8,159
185 REALM O/T CLAW #1 (Of 6)* $2.95 IMA 7,781
186 SOMETHING WICKED #1 (Of 4) $2.95 IMA 7,704
187 TRAKK MONSTER HUNTER #1* $2.95 IMA 7,569
188 SHONEN JUMP VOL 1 #12 DEC 2003 $4.95 VIZ 7,520

Yeah, this one sold over 600,000 on newsstands and through subscriptions. This, more than anything else, proves to me that the 32 page comic format is what is keeping comics selling low numbers.

189 POSSESSED #4 (Of 6) (MR) $2.95 DC 7,510
190 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #130 $2.19 ARC 7,356

Did you know that outside comic shops, this is Archie's best selling comic as well? I'm a bit amazed that Archie hasn't tried to get any other video games for their comics, as this one has been a huge success for the past 10 years. Even when the games have sucked. Like now.

191 BAD GIRLS #4 (Of 6) $2.50 DC 7,278
192 ICANDY #3 $2.50 DC 7,268
193 USAGI YOJIMBO #70 $2.99 DAR 7,259
194 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE OFF GD #8 $5.25 DRE 7,114
195 POWERPUFF GIRLS #44 $2.25 DC 7,114
196 DONALD DUCK & FRIENDS #310 $2.95 GEM 6,765
197 QUEEN & COUNTRY #20 (MR) $2.99 ONI 6,572
198 INVINCIBLE #6 $2.95 IMA 6,475
199 MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #259 $2.95 GEM 6,475
200 KNIGHTS O/T DINNER TABLE #85 $3.99 KZR 6,455

I say it every month, I love this comic, bad art and all. It's funny, and has stories that will grab you and pull you in if you have even been a gamer or know any. Highly recommended.

201 TALES O/T REALM #2 (Of 6) $2.95 MVC 6,388
202 UNCLE SCROOGE #324 $6.95 GEM 6,359
203 WALT DISNEYS CHRISTMAS PARADE #1 $8.95 GEM 6,252
204 CEREBUS #296 $2.25 AAR 6,184

4 issues to go. I have read when Dave Sim has penciled his last Cerebus page, and even though he has a LOT of statements that I disagree with, in its early days, Cerebus was an amazing read...and even during the last 100 issues when it hasn't been as good, the art is still overwhelmingly good. The whole series is an amazing achievement and I recommend that every comic fan at least READ "High Society" to see just what can be done in the monthly comics format.

205 ULTRAMAN TIGA #3 (Of 10) $3.99 DAR 6,078
206 WALKING DEAD #2 $2.95 IMA 6,078
207 OH MY GODDESS #103 DR MOREAU (4 Of 5) $2.99 DAR 5,972
208 GRENDEL GOD & DEVIL #9 (Of 10) (MR) $3.50 DAR 5,962

Still reprinting the 80's Grendel series so that it can be put into a trade paperback, which it will sell better as anyway. Once Dark Horse gets all of the series available in trade, I HIGHLY recommend that if you like innovative comics that aren't just super-hero fights, you pick up a copy of each and spend a few days reading them. It was one of the best comic books of the 80's.

209 BLADE O/T IMMORTAL THORNS ONE-SHOT #84 (MR) $2.99 DAR 5,943
210 SCOOBY DOO #78 $2.25 DC 5,788
211 CINNAMON EL CICLO #4 (Of 5) $2.50 DC 5,778

I like this comic (even though I would have preferred that if Howard Chaykin wasn't drawing it, he wouldn't do covers, since I hate it when they get a different artist for covers of comics. A traditional western using one of DC's more interesting female characters, and as such, had two strikes against it before it was even published. Still, it's a good mini-series and is mildly recommended.

212 LEGACY #3 $2.95 IMA 5,701
213 LONE #3 $2.99 DAR 5,265
214 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #639 $6.95 GEM 5,255
215 USAGI YOJIMBO #71 $2.99 DAR 5,217
216 LOVE & ROCKETS VOL 2 #9 (MR) $3.95 FAN 5,197
217 JACK STAFF #4 $2.95 IMA 4,936
218 FACTION PARADOX #2 $3.50 IMA 4,752
219 QUEEN & COUNTRY #21 (MR) $2.99 ONI 4,549

I buy this as trades, and it reads much better that way, as writer Greg Rucka writes the comic as a novel series instead of an endless soap opera.

220 DEMO #1 (Of 12) (MR) $2.95 AIT 4,529
221 CAPES #2 (Of 3) $3.50 IMA 4,404
222 SUPER MANGA BLAST #36 (MR) $5.99 DAR 4,394

I love this anthology, but as Shonen Jump has shown, comic stores are painfully unfriendly to anthologies that sell well to other readers. I hope this book continues, but with sales this low, it seems that it can't keep going in a downward direction and continue to be published. Highly recommended.

223 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #500 (#59) (Note Price) $3.50 MAR 4,346
224 TERMINATOR 3 FRAGMENTED #5 (MR) $5.95 BEC 4,336
225 STREET FIGHTER #2* $2.95 IMA 4,317
226 CANNON GOD EXAXXION #19 (MR) $2.99 DAR 4,258

I am a bit shocked that Dark Horse hasn't just gone to the "trade paperback" format with all of their manga, like Viz and Tokyopop did. They can't be making a profit with sales this low. I just hope that, unlike Viz, when they switch to Trades, they put a notice in the last issue what trade to pick up to keep reading the story.

227 SYN #3 $2.99 DAR 4,229
228 TEEN TITANS OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES 2003 $5.95 DC 4,046
229 AVENGERS JLA #2 $5.95 DC 4,036
230 GOLD DIGGER #47 $2.99 ANT 3,852
231 DORK TOWER #25 $3.99 DOR 3,813
232 BATMAN #619* $2.25 DC 3,784
233 BATMAN #620 $2.25 DC 3,668
234 GO BOY 7 HUMAN ACTION MACHINE #4 $2.99 DAR 3,620

Dear Dark Horse, Re: Rocket Comics. No one cares. Thank you.

235 SCOOTER GIRL #4 (Of 6) (MR) $2.99 ONI 3,591
236 JOE LANSDALES DRIVE IN #1 (Of 4) (MR) $3.50 AVA 3,542

Joe Lansdale keeps writing comics, even though it's been a while since he's had a success. His novels are great, and his "horror western" comics are really good as well, but I wonder how much of that is Tim Truman's art, since his non-Truman stuff isn't all that good.

237 LOONEY TUNES #108 $2.25 DC 3,446
238 CVO COVERT VAMPIRIC OPERATIONS ARTIFACT #2 (Of 3) $3.99 IDW 3,426
239 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #3 $2.95 DC 3,368
240 DORK TOWER WIZKIDS SP $2.99 DOR 3,242

I have just started picking up Dork Tower, and it's not as funny as I would like, it is NOT friendly to new readers and relies on a lot of inside jokes. It's too bad, because when the creators do have a good joke that doesn't need a lot of insider gaming or past history to understand, it's pretty funny.

241 ARCHIE #542 $2.19 ARC 3,155
242 GRUMPY OLD MONSTERS #1 (Of 4) (MR) $3.99 IDW 3,049

And yes, it's painfully obvious that if this isn't already a TV series or movie, it is being pitched as one.

243 DOGWITCH #8 (MR) $2.95 SIR 2,787
244 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE ILLUSTRATED #28 $2.99 KZR 2,749

I like the normal comic, but this series, while illustrates the "adventures" that are described in the regular series hasn't grabbed me. It's an OK humor fantasy comic, but I'm just not all that interested.

245 KOLCHAK TALES O/NIGHT STALKER #1 (MR) $3.50 MNS 2,729

A cheaper comic using the old TV series, which I liked. The 48 pages stories they have been doing have been good, but certainly not worth $7 for 48 pages. My problem with this series is that I think that $3.50 for a standard comic book is just too damn expensive. Of course, when I look back on this in about 2 years, I'll laugh at how naïve I was, now that comics are $5 each.

246 DUEL MASTERS HOLOFOIL CVR #1 $5.95 DRE 2,700
247 BETTY & VERONICA #195 $2.19 ARC 2,700
248 LOVE FIGHTS #5 (MR) $2.99 ONI 2,691

In this issue, love fights Sub-Zero! See who wins in Mortal Kombat!

249 BETTY #132 $2.19 ARC 2,642
250 SABRINA VOL 2 #52 $2.19 ARC 2,584
251 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #120 $3.59 ARC 2,487
252 CARTOON CARTOONS #24 $2.25 DC 2,458
253 VERONICA #146 $2.19 ARC 2,458
254 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #77 $2.19 ARC 2,420
255 GI JOE #22* $2.95 IMA 2,352
256 ALAN MOORES YUGGOTH CULTURES NECROCOMICON (MR) $4.95 AVA 2,294

Like most of the Avalon Alan Moore stuff, it really seems like Alan Moore just gave the publisher an essay and let them add a bunch of really bad art and put it out on the market. I read the essay and it was OK, but I am REALLY bored with the H. P. Lovecraft worship that seems to have taken over horror again.

257 THE GIFT #3 (MR) $2.95 OVE 2,265
258 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE EVERKNIGHTS #9 $2.99 KZR 2,139
259 STREET FIGHTER CHEN CVR #3 (Net) $5.00 IMA 2,139
260 ARCHIE DIGEST #203 $2.39 ARC 2,052
261 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #80 $3.59 ARC 2,042
262 PS238 #4 $2.99 DOR 2,023
263 OUTSIDERS DOUBLE FEATURE $4.95 DC 2,023

Reprinting the first two issues, and I think that this is reorders for this comic. DC has got to be happy that people are jumping on the comic and sales are still going up, but I'm still kind of surprised it's happening, since it's not a GREAT comic, and actually demands that you have followed DC comics for a while.

264 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #143 $2.39 ARC 2,003
265 HEAVENS DEVILS #2 (Of 4) $3.50 IMA 1,974

This is one of those comic where you can think "You know, that's an idea I haven't heard of before. And there is a REALLY GOOD REASON WHY. It's stupid!"

266 AKIKO #51 $2.95 SIR 1,926
267 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #99 $3.59 ARC 1,849
268 TEEN TITANS #4 $2.50 DC 1,829
269 ARCHIE MYSTERIES #32 $2.19 ARC 1,781

When I was a kid in the 70's, every cartoon seemed to be about either ghosts or solving mysteries or both. The only one that anyone remembers is Scooby Doo, which hasn't been on network TV in over a decade. That trend died out about 30 years ago, so we're all proud of the Archie folks for finally jumping on that bandwagon now that it is old enough to have children of its own who have outgrown Archie comics.

270 BLACK TIDE #8* $2.95 AGP 1,723
271 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #2 $2.95 DC 1,713
272 LEGION #25 $3.95 DC 1,703
273 DEAD AT 17 #1 (Of 4) (MR) $2.95 VIP 1,694

Oh, I'm thinking this comic will be dead by #3.

274 JOE LANSDALES DRIVE-IN WRAP CVR #1 (Of 4) (MR) $3.95 AVA 1,645
275 MILK #37 (A) $3.50 RAD 1,616
276 SEAMONSTERS & SUPERHEROES #1 (Of 3) $2.95 SLA 1,616

No matter how stupid the title of this comic is, you have to think, "Well, at least it sold better than Zen, Intergalactic Ninja."

277 JUGHEAD W/ARCHIE DIGEST #188 $2.39 ARC 1,616
278 ASSEMBLY #1 (Of 4) $2.99 ANT 1,558
279 RUULE GANGLORDS O/CHINATOWN #1 $2.99 BEC 1,461

This is a comic published by Beckett (who publishes sports card guides) and it got a HUGE ad in every Marvel comic, a cover by David Mack and a discounted price for the first issue. And even with all of that, it didn't sell more than 1500 copies. Does anyone think that they will publish all 5 issues?

280 MATRIXXX #1 (Of 3) (A) $3.50 ERO 1,442

I would make fun of this comics, but I would imagine it's probably better than Matrix: Revolutions.

281 LEGENDS FROM DARKWOOD #1 (Of 3) $3.50 ANT 1,384
282 FURRLOUGH #129 $2.99 RAD 1,316
283 LUFTWAFFE 1946 #13 $5.95 ANT 1,287
284 TRANSFORMERS GENERATION ONE VOL 2 #6 (Of 6)* $2.95 DRE 1,161
285 ZEN #4 $2.95 ZEN 1,161

I wonder how long it will be until they announce a movie with this character, then it will be canceled and then come back in 3 or 4 years as "The Hot New Hero!". And it won't sell then either.

286 FURRY NINJA HIGH SCHOOL STRIKES BACK #1 (Of 2) $4.99 SFA 1,113

OK, it is at this point when I read the titles of the comics and my head explodes. If you bought this comic, you need to know something.

You Scare Me.

287 HEAD #5 (A) $3.50 ERO 1,084
288 STREET FIGHTER #1* $2.95 IMA 1,065
289 MICHAEL TURNER PRESENTS ASPEN #1 (Of 3) $2.99 ASP 987

Yeah, I know these are re-orders, but I see that Michael Turner is doing a stint on Batman/Superman, so that we'll get to see that Turner can only draw two face, three body types on a Big Time Super-hero comic.

290 TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN VOL 2 #1* $2.95 DRE 987
291 DIGITAL GRAFFITI #1 (Of 4) $3.50 CMX 968
292 DIGITAL WEBBING PRESENTS #12 $2.95 DIG 958
293 FRANK MILLERS ROBOCOP #3 PLATINUM FOIL INC CVR $3.75 AVA 948
294 JLA #89 $2.25 DC 948
295 POSE FILE MONTHLY #4 $4.95 ANT 939

There are almost 1000 people who have never heard of photographs.

296 WARHAMMER MONTHLY #75 $3.50 GAM 939
297 CASUAL SEX #3 (A) $3.50 ERO 929

Since this is a porno comic, I'm pretty sure it's not an adaptation of the movie from the 80's with Victoria Jackson and Lea Thompson. Which I never saw, since I heard that there was no nudity. So, while I won't buy a porn comic with the title Casual Sex...and I won't see a CLEAN movie with the title Casual Sex. Damn, but I'm hard to please.

298 WONDER WOMAN #197 $2.25 DC 910
299 WARHAMMER MONTHLY #74 $3.50 GAM 910
300 LICENSABLE BEAR #1 $2.95 ABO 881

So, you think they might be trying to get a licensing deal out of this comic?

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