Sales Review: November 2018

Perhaps it is that everyone has less cash to spend because they are buying holiday presents.
Perhaps it is that everyone has less money to put to floppies because they subscribed to the DCU streaming service.

But comics sales went down pretty badly last month. And the super titles were not immune. As always, head to ICv2 for coverage here: https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/42021/top-500-comics-november-2018


You might recall that sales on Supergirl #23 were ludicrously high, perhaps bolstered by a foil enhanced Artgerm cover.

I thought fan favorite Doc Shaner being on art for Supergirl #24 might keep the ball rolling.

Supergirl #24 not only sported that spiffy Shaner art but introduced a suave Coluan into the mix. It had some fun Kara/Krypto fighting sequences. And we even saw how quickly Supergirl can become non-super if she taxes her system and isn't bathing in yellow sun.

Overall, not a bad issue. And definitely easy on the eyes.

So how did it sell.

Review: Supergirl #24

Supergirl #24 came out this week and I won't bury the lede. It has Doc Shaner art.

Since I discovered Shaner's art I have wanted to see his take on Supergirl and he doesn't disappoint. That is not to say that Kevin Maguire hasn't been killing it on this book; he has. But there is something just magical, just gorgeous, just grin-inducing about Shaner's art and his take on Kara that elevates this issue tremendously. Expect me to gush throughout the review even though I have already blasted you with superlatives.

The story in the issue is good, advancing the plot of detective Kara trying to uncover what Rogol Zaar and 'The Circle' had to do with Krypton's destruction. I feel like the first three issues have been something of prologue, starting Kara out on this intergalactic journey. Now, out in space, writer Marc Andreyko can start to put the rest of the pieces out on the chess board. A couple of new characters are introduced. And we continue to move forward on Kara's quest to reunite the crystals Appa Ali Apsa.

Sure, Kara seems more of the angry, 'punch first' Supergirl of past years. The cover touts her 'path of vengenace'. It seems like a step back in her characterization. At least, at times, she seems like the bright, inquisitive Supergirl we have seen recently.

But the big win here is Shaner's art. It is just a fill-in. He has no other planned issue of Supergirl ahead. Maybe the hue and cry of the common folk can bring him back as designated pinch hitter?

Onto the book.

DC November Solicits

It may sound strange but I am having this swell of optimism in my heart about comics and DC Comics in general. Perhaps it is the hazy afterglow of convention season. Perhaps it is because there seems to be a sort of sweep of creativity going through the DC books recently. At the very least, you can say the company is trying new stuff while leaning into their proven commodities.

That feeling only got larger in my heart when I looked at the November solicits, seen here at Newsarama:
https://www.newsarama.com/41452-dc-comics-november-2018-solicitations.html

Maybe it is because one of my favorite artists is doing Supergirl. Maybe it is because a new Shazam book is going to be on the shelf. Maybe it is because Scott Snyder continues to keep the new Justice League book flying at warp 9. Maybe it is G. Willow Wilson is starting on Wonder Woman. Maybe it is one of my all time favorite comic writers back on a monthly?

Maybe it is all of it.

But it starts with seeing Doc Shaner doing November's Supergirl. Not that I don't love Kevin Maguire. But I have been wanting to see Shaner draw Supergirl for a long time. Getting a whole issue of him on Kara (maybe more than one issue?) set the tone!

On to the super-solicits and other stuff that caught my eye.