Sales Review: April 2010

The market analysis for comic sales in April 2010 are up over on ICv2.com and it looks as though there was a slight dip in sales in all comics from the prior month. I always enjoy looking at these monthly reports to get a sense of comic trends. And as always, I like looking at the super-titles and Supergirl to see how sales are holding up.

Here is the link to the list of the top 300 comics for April: http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/17449.html

That month, there were 2 issues of Last Stand of New Krypton as well as the last Mon-El-centric issue of Superman and the last 2 Nightwing/Flamebird issues of Action Comics. The Supergirl issue was also the "first" meeting of Brainiac 5 and Supergirl and a Last Stand tie-in. As has been the trend, sales for these books landed them in the middle of the top 100. In fact, the best selling Superman based book was Secret Origin #5 which came in at #32.


As for Supergirl #52, it came in as the 63rd best-selling comic selling just under 30K (29490). This was down a smidge (1%) from the 29,845 that Supergirl #51 sold. It is still a nice little rebound from Supergirl #49 which dipped to 27,726 in sales.

Supergirl remains the best selling female hero in the DC stable. She also was only outsold by 2 other solo female books, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and the first issue of the new Black Widow series.

I guess I will need to see where sales drift after the War of the Supermen story ends. After that, my guess is there won't be as tight a crossover feel to the book and Supergirl will be flying on her own merits. Hopefully her strong presence in Last Stand and War will draw in readers.


And what about R.E.B.E.L.S. #15 which sported the very fetching Starfire on the cover.

Not much to say. The book sold just under 100 less copies than last month. I am proud to say I am one of the smart 11K fans out there reading this book. It is an inch below Jonah Hex, so I am hoping some of Hex's 'cancellation invulnerability' will rub off on Dox and his crew. I thought for sure that the 'Kory Cheesecake sale' in the book would bring in some readers.

R.E.B.E.L.S. remains a consistently great book. In what has become a monthly mantra, I will hope that DC doesn't pull the plug.

Review: Supergirl #52

After much anticipation, Supergirl #52 came out this week. And as promised, it brought Brainiac 5 and Supergirl together again ... for the first time. (I have always wanted to say that.

Some of the preview comments about this issue make it seem like Brainy might know Supergirl from another timeline ... maybe the pre-Crisis Earth-1 Kara? But I didn't think that at all. I thought we were dealing with characters from different time periods who are interacting with each other at different points in their lives, but all on the same timeline. I know ... I am confused typing it and I wrote it. I'll try to explain what I mean as this review moves along. The good news is there is more interplay between the two characters to come ... guaranteed.

I really think Sterling Gates does a nice job with the two characters here. I just get the sense he has an appreciation for the history of Supergirl and Brainiac 5 together.

One thing I was worried about was that Supergirl might be lost in this Last Stand issue (the way she was sort of a bystander in the Supergirl issue of Codename:Patriot). Those worries were unfounded. While this is a Last Stand issue, and it does move the bigger story arc forward, Supergirl is the primary focus in the book.

We start the issue looking at the big picture of Last Stand. As seen at the end of Adventure Comics #10, Zod and his soldiers have escaped Kandor, enlarged to normal size, and free on Brainiac's ship.

I can't get enough of Ursa. She is deliciously malicious, saying the wailing cries of fear from the bottled cities are 'motivating'. But look at that smile. I think she is thinking they are 'stimulating'. She is a predator. She doesn't deal in deception and guile like Zod. You always know where you stand with Ursa.


With that stage set, we finally see Supergirl and Brainy. And immediately we get the sense that their relationship will have the headaches and paradoxes that 'time travel' stories usually do.

After a standard condescending Brainiac 5 comment, Supergirl thinks to herself that he is a jerk.

Then Brainy thinks 'she told me the first time she met me she thought I was a jerk.' So this isn't the first time he has met her ... even though this is the first time she has met him. Classic time travel craziness.



Brainy's arrogance and aloofness leads Supergirl to think that the Coluan doesn't like her. Odd, since he chose her to go with him on this mission when the Legion split up. She just senses he has a problem with her.

That couldn't be farther from the truth.

In a brief moment alone, Brainy reveals how hard it is to be near Supergirl ... how much he loves her ... how hard it was when she dies.

Wait ....

What?

Her dying?

What?

My first reaction was maybe he was remembering the death of the 'original' Supergirl, her dying in the Crisis.

But then I realized that Brainy is looking back at Supergirl's life historically. Of course he would know Kara dies at some point. What is hard to know from his words is if he was there when she died.

But I don't know any Supergirl fans who want to hear about her dying again. We are all a bit antsy after the Crisis. We don't even joke about it.


After being omnipresent in the book for almost a year, Reactron hasn't been seen in Supergirl #47. At the end of that issue (which feels like a lifetime ago given everything that has happened in this book since), Alura had faked Reactron's death so she could torture him for information.

It turns out he has been tortured ... and hasn't given Commander Gor the information he wants.

In a sudden turn of the tables, Luthor shows up in the miniaturized Kandor. Lex wastes no time in perforating Gor's chest, killing him. I have to say I won't shed many tears for the boorish and sadistic Gor who always seemed to have the wrong thing to say at the wrong time.

In what is a surprise, this turns out not to be a rescue mission. Luthor isn't there to release Reactron. He is there for something else.

Chances that something else is Reactron's Gold Kryptonite heart? 95%


But more on Luthor later.

Battling their way through Brainiac's satellite, Supergirl just can't shake the feeling she has met Brainiac 5 before. Brainy tries to figure out if indeed Supergirl has met him already but that her memories of the future are being masked by Saturn Girl's mental blocks. I wondered if it was some memories from her time with the other Brainiac 5 (from the Waid/Kitson Legion). Or is it some resonating feeling from prior continuities.

At the very least, they may be memories from the first time Brainy (a younger him) met Supergirl ... a story teased for this fall's Supergirl Annual #2. Two stories representing both sides of 'the first Brainiac5/Supergirl story'? Sounds perfect for such a convoluted chronal relationship.

At least we know what is in store for the Annual. If Jamal Igle is too busy, any guesses on who the artist should be?


Brainiac 5 continues to deny having met Supergirl, even to the point of saying no records of her career exist in the future. Be he slips, calling her Linda Lang and Superman's cousin. It would be hard to know those facts if no records are around.

How is it that a 12th level intelligence make such a boneheaded mistake? Maybe he is flustered around her. Historically, we have seen Brainy stammer and sputter around Supergirl in many stories. Why should this incarnation be different?

Supergirl doesn't like the deception though. Maybe Brainy is hiding something? Maybe he is a threat? There are some nice echoes here back to that first comic meeting in Action Comics #276.


Before she can deck him, Brainiac I flushes them out. Staying one step ahead of the satellites defenses (the dreaded Visper Phages), Brainy divulges why he needed Supergirl with him. Only she would have the power to smash the satellite's power core. Not an elegant plan by any means.

I love how Brainy tries to rationalize it by saying "you can't outhink a fist." And I love Kara's exasperated response "what does that even mean?"

It reminded me of Kurt Russell's character Jack Burton in John Carpenter's Big Trouble In Little China. Burton was always befuddled at the 'wisdom' being thrown at him. He also said 'what does that even mean' when someone told him 'China is here, Mr. Burton.' I can think of no higher compliment than if someone's work reminds me of Big Trouble.


Brainiac 5 implores her to destroy the reactor while he attempts to hold off the Phages. Supergirl adds her own wrinkle to the plan. Assuming that Brainy's force field belt can take the punishment, she carries him with her as she become a battering ram, smashing the satellite's power core. Mission accomplished.

I was glad to see that Matt Camp's great cover was based on an actual event in the book.


Success doesn't make Kara forget all the earlier subterfuge by Brainiac 5. She wants answers and is willing to wring them out of Brainy if she has to.

He tells Kara that she needs to trust her friends who care about her. And she needs to trust him. That said, he can't tell her anything about her future. She needs to live her own life. After hearing so many people tell her how she should be living her life, it must be nice for Supergirl to have someone say she needs to discover her own future.

Supergirl finds it and his brooding ways 'kinda cute'. And while she might not say that, Brainy knows she finds it cute and starts to trust him from there on because at some point in his past (and her future) she told him so.

I can imagine it is hard to write these scenes ... trying to capture that initial magic and chemistry that leads to attraction and romance. But I think Gates does a good job showing how Brainiac 5 could pique Supergirl's interest.


And thanks to her efforts, the reactor is shut down, Brainiac's satellite's force field is down, and Superman is suddenly back on the playing field. On board, Luthor emerges from Kandor and grabs a bottle city for himself.

This was such an interesting issue for me and I credit Sterling Gates for keeping me guessing. As an old school Supergirl fan, I was ready for a Kara and Brainy to be together again. And I was hoping that this would be an old-fashioned romance .. a happy reimagination. Instead, we get just the earliest sparks from Supergirl. We also get outright fatalism from Brainiac 5. In his mind, the relationship is literally over before it has even begun.

This wasn't rainbows on roses and whiskers on kittens. This was bittersweet ... bordering on sad. That was unexpected ... and therefore appreciated. And I can understand that sadness in Brainiac 5. I have seen it in the immediate post-Crisis issues.


It reminds me so much of this panel from JLA #12 (by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter). When time travel gets involved it can be difficult to explain variances with 3 dimensional language. I cannot give a comic a higher compliment than to say it reminds me of Morrison's famed JLA run.

While I know we have the remainder of Last Stand and the next Annual to look forward to, but I sincerely hope we see even more of this relationship. Brainy certainly talks like there is 'history' .. not just a couple of adventures together.

Outside of this interesting first take on the Brainy/Kara romance, I would be remiss if I didn't say that this was another good Last Stand issue with things continuing to move forward.

Guest artist Ivan Rodriguez does a fine job here. His Supergirl looks more like a young woman. I also like that he tweaked her S-shield, making it a unique symbol for Kara.

Overall grade: A/B+

Supergirl #52 Cover

For your viewing pleasure here at Supergirl Comic Box Commentary ... the first look at the cover to Supergirl #52, art by Matt Camp!

The image is striking ... a confident Supergirl carrying an obviously terrified Brainy away from an explosion. It is a flip-flop of the usual gender roles on covers like this. Supergirl is posed in such a classically heroic fashion as she streaks away from danger.

Thanks so much to Matt Camp for forwarding this and to DC for letting me post here.

I have said it before, so I'll say it again. I really like Camp's style. And he does such a great Supergirl; he seems very comfortable with her. While I love Jamal Igle's monthly work, I hope Camp remains linked to the character artistically in the future. Maybe as designated pinch hitter when Jamal is busy?

Here is the solicit for the issue on DC's website: http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=14499. It is listed for a 4/21 release.

Supergirl #52
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Matt Camp; Cover by Josh Middleton

Continued from ADVENTURE COMICS #10! Supergirl meets Brainiac 5 of the Legion of Super-Heroes for the first time! But Brainy has not only already met Supergirl, he's already loved and lost her. Confused? Not as confused as Supergirl! Plus, Brainiac unleashes a weapon that spells the end for New Krypton and only Superman and the Legionnaires can stop it!


For the sake of completeness, here is the Josh Middleton 'sketch cover' that was originally released with the solicit. I wonder if this will ever see the light of day.

Camp on the cover of #52. Igle on the cover of #53.

Hmmmm .....

April Solicits

Every so often an advance solicit is released and is so absolutely tantalizing and exciting that I feel like a kid again. I wonder just how many Supergirl fans out there got that same giddy rush when they saw the Super title advance solicits on Newsarama late last week. Here is the link:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/superman-solicitations-april-2010.html

And right at the top here is that wonderful solicit.



SUPERGIRL #52
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by JAMAL IGLE & JON SIBAL; Cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON

Continued from ADVENTURE COMICS #10! Supergirl meets Brainiac 5 of the Legion of Super-Heroes for the first time! But Brainy has not only already met Supergirl, he’s already loved and lost her. Confused? Not as confused as Supergirl! Plus, Brainiac unleashes a weapon that spells the end for New Krypton and only Superman and the Legionnaires can stop it!

A reunion/first meeting of Supergirl and Brainiac 5! Just spectacular.

The thing is that for a lot of older readers the Brainiac 5/Supergirl relationship was a big part of both characters. It was even revisited in a Justice League Unlimited episode. It was hinted at when Supergirl was the star of the three-boot LSH> So to see Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle revisiting and reimagining it ... well that is just a delicious treat.

And how about Brainy having 'already loved and lost her'? I assume that means he has some memory of the pre-COIE Earth-1 Supergirl. We saw shots of her in the Legion-laden Final Crisis:Legion of Three Worlds. So she must have existed on some timeline!

This early version of the cover by Joshua Middleton perfectly shows this Supergirl's feelings of confusion as Brainiac 5 hugs her while she puts an arm up as defense.

My guess is a lot of Supergirl fans were cheering a little bit when they read this.



SUPERMAN: LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON #2-3

Written by JAMES ROBINSON & STERLING GATES
Art by PETE WOODS; Issue 2 cover by GEORGE PEREZ; Issue 3 cover by RYAN SOOK

LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON ships twice in April as the biggest Superman story in years rockets towards its mind-blowing conclusion!
In issue #2, things look bleak for the Kryptonians as Brainiac reveals his trump card for destroying the planet, leaving Zod grasping at straws as to how to defend his people. But Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes have made it aboard Brainiac’s ship, determined to stop the tyrant at any cost!
In #3, the epic conclusion, Superman and Zod must work together if they’re to have a chance of stopping Brainiac! But a victory for New Krypton means a devastating loss for the Legion!
Over a year’s worth of stories builds to the final page of this series, and you don’t want to miss it!
Over a year’s worth of New Krypton stories has been building up to the final page of this series, and once you see it, you’ll know there’s only one outcome: the WAR OF THE SUPERMEN!

Of course, Supergirl is just a part of the Last Stand of New Krypton story arc in April.

The miniseries ships twice that month to tee up the War of the Supermen storyline which starts on Free Comic Book Day in May.

At least we get a hint about why there would need to be a War of the Supermen. If Brainiac destroys New Krypton, Earth might be the only place they could easily settle. I don't know how saving New Krypton would lead to a Legion disaster but I am eager to see. Hopefully all the Superman title threads will weave into this story.

And finally, I love the cover here with Conner and Kara squaring off against the Brainiac probes.



ADVENTURE COMICS #10

Written by JAMES ROBINSON & STERLING GATES
Co-Feature written by ERIC TRAUTMANN
Art by JULIAN LOPEZ & CLAYTON HENRY;Co-feature art by PIER GALLO
Cover by Joe Quinones

Continued from LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON #2! It’s Superman, Supergirl and Brainiac 5 against Brainiac as Superboy and Mon-El fight Zod, Ursa and Non!
And in the co-feature, the Human Defense Corps manages to sneak aboard Brainiac’s ship amid all the chaos – but what exactly are they up to? Continued in SUPERGIRL #52!

And another piece of the Last Stand arc is in Adventure Comics #10, putting Conner back where he belongs ... in Adventure.

The most exciting thing about this solicit is that Ursa is mentioned and seen on the cover. I thought she would have a much bigger part in Greg Rucka's Action Comics run. She was vicious in the early issues there.



ACTION COMICS #888-889

Written by GREG RUCKA & ERIC TRAUTMANN; Co-feature written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by PERE PEREZ; Co-feature art by CAFU

ACTION COMICS ships twice in April! With Nightwing nowhere in sight, ACTION #888 finds Flamebird face-to-face with the rampaging Rao! But can she defeat him by herself? Luckily, it looks like she won’t have to! Enter: Wonder Woman and the Justice Society of America! And in the co-feature, Captain Atom discovers that to complete his journey, he must first travel through the lost world of Skartaris!

And in issue #889, with the fate of both New Krypton and Earth weighing on their young shoulders, are Nightwing & Flamebird prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice? And in the co-feature, Captain Atom has managed to find a way back to Mirabai’s world, intent on confronting the woman who made him a tool of destruction — but what stunning revelation awaits him there?

Another title with 2 issues released in April. It looks like DC wants May to be a 'clean slate' for the Superman titles. So the Nightwing and Flamebird storyline is going to come to an end. I, for one, have enjoyed there story .... more than I thought I would.

But the ultimate sacrifice? We know that the entities are always doomed to die. Could this be some suicidal event to stop whatever Rao is rampaging? I am torn. I think there are too many Kryptonians so I think DC should weed some out. But I have come to like both Thara and Chris.



SUPERMAN #699

Written by JAMES ROBINSON • Art by BERNARD CHANG
Cover by AARON LOPRESTI

Superman has defeated Brainiac before, but it cost him the life of his father. Now Brainiac has returned, more powerful than ever, and the entire planet of New Krypton is at stake! Things look bleak for the Man of Steel and his people, but for all Brainiac’s knowledge, he still has one lesson to learn: Superman. Never. Gives. Up.

Sounds almost too good to be true! I hope Kal thrashes him. And I hope that Robinson is able to pull it all together.

And next month will be Superman #700. Incredible.

I hope that War of the Superman brings people back to the titles and garners as much praise as a mega-event as Blackest Night. But really, Supergirl is going to meet Brainiac 5! Not much more needs to be said.