Sales Review: November 2011

The DCnU reboot/relaunch certainly led to a massive uptick in comic sales and DC sales as a whole. Comic sales were robust, DC ruled to comic landscape, and comics were suddenly being promoted in mainstream media.

But could that momentum be maintained? Could the bloom stay on the rose? Or would entropy set in?

Well sales from November are interesting to peruse. As always, ICv2 does a great job breaking things down. Here is a link to their site and sales tables: http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/21712.html

While DC continued to lead the market, the lead over Marvel has shrunk. Certainly, there are some thing about the DCnU that worry me. The changes in creative teams feels like there was a lack of foresight, a lack of the big picture long term in these books. DC is already talking about cancelling some books ... cancelling after 3 issues of sales, without allowing a book to find its market ... seems like too quick a trigger finger.

As for Supergirl #3, sales dropped pretty dramatically. The issue sold about 10K less than the prior! That's a 17% loss. What could have driven that many people away. And it is a shame because I thought the third issue was the best of the book so far, less decompressed and with more moments revealing who this Kara is.

Of course, you need to put these things in perspective. If a year ago you asked me if I would be happy with Supergirl selling 45K, I would of course say yes. But I don't know what to think about this ... and I don't want to overthink it. A drop of 20% this early can't be considered a good thing.

Hopefully we won't see a further freefall.

Review: Supergirl #3

Supergirl #3 came out this week and was my favorite issue of the run so far. Unlike the decompressed first couple of issues, this issue had a lot of story stuffed into 20 short pages.

We are still in the helter-skelter earliest moments of Supergirl's so the pace is brisk as she tries to grasp exactly what is happening to her. Her reactions to this bizarre new environment are both physical and emotional. Kara is appropriately confused and just wants to get back to the life she knew. And her reactions give us a better sense of just who this Kara is and I am glad we are starting to get more depth of her characterization. All along writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson have said that Supergirl isn't going to immediately adjust to life on Earth. A desire to go home, if possible, makes perfect sense.

As usual, Mahmud Asrar's artwork, inked by Bill Reinhold, is stellar. I am usually remiss in that I don't mention colorists work on book Paul Mounts really uses a wide palette and nuance to the colors here. I still don't know if I like the bottom of the costume and I don't envy Asrar in having to render it with all it's corners. It also seems to be cover a variable amount of skin depending on the angle of the panel.

The issue opens with the continuing conversation between the super-cousins. Superman has to give Supergirl the hard news of Krypton's destruction, the death of all their people, and the time that has passed. Of course that doesn't gibe with Supergirl's memories of Krypton being from only a couple of days prior. I have my theories on that; theories I have floated here and will do again in a bit.

But there is some good interactions here. First, prior to this panel, Kara talks about how Superman's voice scares her but she knows it is a voice which can only say the truth. It isn't exactly super-intuition but at least she trusts him. I thought that was a nice touch, again something which makes me think this Supergirl isn't as isolated from people as early statements sounded like.

Moreover, in this panel when Supergirl is still somewhat in denial, she again talks about how this has to be a plot against the House of El. I hope there is more story there ... either in the Superman books or here.

Unfortunately this conversation is cut short when Superman has to rush off to a disaster. I thought this interaction was great, Superman talking about how they have to help the people of Earth with their powers. After all, with great power comes ... umm ... heroism? Nice collage panel there.

And while I think Supergirl will one day stand up and join him in helping people, she just isn't ready for that now. I don't think this is a lack of caring by her. I think she simply can't deal with this new environment right now. She wants to just get back to Krypton and the life she knew.

She flies off to get back to her pod and her home. I have talked in the past of the overuse of the image of a crying Supergirl. But tears here also make sense given the magnitude of what she has just learned.

Superman, I assume, flies off to help whatever disaster is happening but speaks to her via her super-hearing. It again is spot on for Superman as he sounds both loving and supportive but also concerned.

But I wish I knew what the disaster was because it better be something huge for him to just let his long lost cousin, the only other survivor of Krypton, and basically a potential risk to just fly off. I loved the conversation but it ended almost too quickly.

Back at the crash site, Supergirl discovers her pod is gone. Instead a hologram device projects a message from Simon Tycho a 28 year old trillionaire who has got the world's countries' blessing to scrounge up all things which fall to Earth from space. That includes Supergirl's ship.

He is obviously brilliant and rich so this could make him Supergirl's Lex Luthor. But to be honest, I also got a strong vibe of 'Alex' from the James Peaty/Bernard Chang run. There is such an overwhelming air of arrogance around this man throughout the book. His callous manner in talking to his workers, Supergirl, even the President of the US in this issue ... it all speaks of sheer haughtiness. I sort of like the idea of a Luthor-like rogue for Kara.

He decides to test Supergirl. He knows she must want her pod and so he leads her to it on his satellite.

Some nice panels here as Supergirl hopes her new-found powers will get her where she needs to go but still with realistic fears about her situation. "Don't stop ... please,please,please ... don't look down", that all reads right.

On Tycho's satellite, he continues to push Supergirl's powers. Here she defends herself against robots.

We've heard Green and Johnson talk about how Supergirl will have a unique power and we finally get to see it. Here, in the 'heat of battle', she heats up herself. I don't know if I need a pseudo-scientific explanation but my guess is a Kryptonian female can metabolize yellow sun energy faster. That's why Supergirl got near immediate powers. And maybe she can literally burn off that energy as heat. At the very least, way way better than crystal spikes.

I have already heard it called 'super hot flashes' on-line so I hope Green and Johnson name it soon.

And here she fights 'the brain', a sticky stretchy gelatinous monster which reminds me of an old Brer Rabbit story. The brain can't survive the vacuum of space, so Supergirl is able to escape that trap as well.

Finally Supergirl is able to find her pod only to discover it is oozing Kryptonite, weakening her and setting up a nice cliffhanger.

So my origin theory. This thing is really a pod. It isn't a rocket like Kal was sent in. Maybe Zor-El didn't have a rocket ready. But Argo City somehow survives. Unfortunately, as in the Silver Age, the ground becomes deadly Kryptonite. To try to survive, Zor-El places Kara (maybe everyone) into protected suspended animation pods. This explains her not aging despite the passage of years (although it doesn't explain the memory problem). And then maybe the city becomes invaded by a threat ... whoever this 'Maxima' is. Maxima begins killing the sleeping citizens. Zor-El jettisons his daughter's pod towards Earth as a last ditch effort to save her. She lands here. It would keep some of the classic elements of her origin (Argo City surviving and then eventual Kryptonite doomed place) while being tweaked a bit (as it was by Johns/Gates just a handful of years ago).

Anyways, this issue traveled at a much faster pace than the earlier ones, semi-solidified her relationship with Kal (at least they weren't fighting and she was listening), introduced a new arch-villain, showcased a new power, and dropped more hints about Supergirl's origin. Now that is a pretty packed book.

What's better is that the characterization seemed right. She could have fought Superman more. She could have called humans gnats or cavemen. She could have been portrayed as disaffected or apathetic or bitter. Instead she was portrayed as strong and a bit sad. And that's okay given where we are in her journey.

Overall grade: B+/B

November 2011 Solicits

The November DC solicits are now available for perusal. Here is the link to Newsarama's coverage:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-comics-november-2011-solicitations-110812.html

As this is the third chapter of everybody's story, it is somewhat hard to gauge my interest. I don't know much about these versions of these characters. As I have said before, I am glad that the relaunch is almost here simply because I am tired of speculating about what these books will be like.

SUPERGIRL #3

Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON

Art by MAHMUD ASRAR

Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

The ship that brought Supergirl to Earth - her one remaining link to Krypton - has been stolen! Can The Girl of Steel navigate a strange new planet to find it? And will she uncover the trap set by a deadly new villain in time to save herself?

So, the solicit is mysterious enough to warrant only a couple of comments. One, Kara's ship wasn't mentioned that much in the main comic, seen in the Fortress. If she truly feels alien on Earth, then her ship probably should have some sentimental value for her. And I assume the 'strange new planet' she is navigating is Earth? I don't yet get a sense of how long this Supergirl has been on Earth. If she is truly befuddled by simple things that could get old real fast.

The cover itself is very nice. I think Asrar's art is going to really sparkle here. That said, I have to join the growing crowd complaining about the bottom of her costume. I really think the corners where the red meets the blue are just awkward looking and distracting. I wish it would just become a level edge.

ACTION COMICS #3

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by RAGS MORALES, BRENT ANDERSON and RICK BRYANT

Cover by RAGS MORALES

1:25 Variant cover by MIKE CHOI

1:200 B and W Variant cover by RAGS MORALES

"Superman, Go Home!" In a startling tale only Grant Morrison could bring you, the people of Metropolis turn on their new champion! But why? Plus, shocking secrets from Krypton revealed!

Only Grant Morrison can write this story? Wasn't the first half of Grounded people telling Superman they hate him?

Anyways, I still think this is going to be a big win. Of course, I love almost everything that Morrison does. So I am probably biased. I have always liked Rags Morales art so this is a great creative team for me.

SUPERMAN #3

Written by GEORGE PEREZ

Breakdowns and cover by GEORGE PEREZ

Art by JESUS MERINO

Superman finds himself beset as a TV reporter at the new Daily Planet makes a case that Superman brings Metropolis more harm than good, while a vicious new foe attacks those nearest and dearest to Clark Kent! Who are all these new villains attacking Metropolis lately, and what deadly secret connects them? Superman's not going to like the answer!

Hurray! Yet another storyline were someone makes the case that Superman is more harm than good. Wasn't the first half of Grounded the very same story. And is there anything bold or new about this? Isn't being bold and new and fresh what the DCnU was supposed to be about?

I have less confidence in this book.

SUPERBOY #3

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL

Art by R.B. SILVA and ROB LEAN

Cover by ERIC CANETE

When N.O.W.H.E.R.E. assigned Superboy to put down an alien prison riot, they couldn't have suspected his powers would bring the entire prison down on top of him. Inside the wreckage, he'll find a mysterious - and gorgeous - alien who could help him escape... but does she want to? Meanwhile, Superboy's handler, Rose Wilson, is about to discover that she is connected to the origin of her "assignment" in a way she never imagined!

So the addition of Ravager (if she is Ravager) as Superboy's handler is a nice touch to this book. But I still don't know if I have a sense of what this title is all about. So I don't know how to react to this solicit yet. I still don't like the Tron look of Conner's costume.

I don't know if I am going to like this book. But I will go in with open eyes.

SUPERGIRL: GOOD-LOOKING CORPSE TP

Written by NICK SPENCER and JAMES PEATY

Art by BERNARD CHANG, CHRISCROSS and MARC DEERING

Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

Someone is trying to kill the young heroes of the DC Universe in these stories from SUPERGIRL #60-67! Who is this villain, and how can Supergirl stop him? Maybe her friends can help – namely, Batgirl, Blue Beetle, Miss Martian, Static and Robin!

Well, I suppose I should be glad that the last 8 issues of this Supergirl are being collected in a trade. But there is a lot that isn't right about this description.

First off, Kelly Sue DeConnick and ChrisCross are the creative team for #65-67 and should be listed.

Second, despite early descriptions, Batgirl and Static don't appear in the book.

Still, the stories contained in the trade are very good and I'll get it, despite DC's lousy write up.

SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN TP

Written by GEOFF JOHNS

Art by GARY FRANK and JON SIBAL

Cover by GARY FRANK

Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank bring you a startling new look at the beginnings of Lex Luthor, The Legion of Super-Heroes, Lois Lane, Metallo, Jimmy Olsen, The Parasite and more of your favorite characters from the Superman family in this new trade paperback collecting the acclaimed six-issue miniseries!

So, I thought Johns and Fran did a pretty good job with this Secret Origin. The first several issues detailing the young Clark were really inspired. I also think that the Luthor story weaving through the mini-series was also very good. But the ending, with Superman taking on the military, where the army was portrayed as the enemy, fell a little short.

Of course, this was the last of many mini-reboots of Superman's origin over the last decade. This one didn't even last a couple of years as the DCnU will wipe the slate clean again. I am on the fence about getting this in trade form.