Brian Bendis followed up the hugely successful ‘Avengers: Disassembled’ storyline with the new series, ‘New Avengers’. Sales for the first issue topped 240,000, and while numbers did understandably decline, sales stayed well above 120,000 for 31 of its first 32 issues. And while sales have dropped to the 100,000 range recently, ‘New Avengers’ has achieved a most impressive run during its first 3 1/2 years.

The letters on the chart above correspond to spikes in sales as shown below (some increases significant, but most less so):

– A: Issue 5 (sales of 162,412) featured Wolverine joining the team and on the cover
– B: Issue 21 (sales of 134,278) was a Civil War crossover boasting ‘New Avengers: Disassembled’
– C: Issue 23 (sales of 154,262) was another big Civil War crossover featuring Spider-Woman
– D: Issue 27 (sales of 130,531) promoted the return of the New Avengers
– E: Issue 31 (sales of 160,911) teased the infamous “most important last page of the year,” unveiling the Skrull secret Invasion
– F: Issue 40 (sales of 110,470) started the ‘Secret Invasion’ crossover issues

Actual data comes from the monthly top 300 charts generated by ICv2.com.

Previous sales overview include
–‘Wolverine: Origins’ Sales Freefall
–Sales Overview for ‘Wolverine’ Vol. 2, uh… Vol. 3?
–Sales Overview for ‘Astonishing X-Men’ #1-24 (and Giant-Size)
–Ultimate X-Men #1-94 Sales Analysis

Secret Invasion #4
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Leinil Yu

You’d think with the number of ‘Secret Invasion’ titles Bendis is writing each month that this story would be progressing a little faster. But between the ponderous flashbacks and the heavy-handed attempts to create paranoia, this Invasion feels like it’s never going to end.

I’m also trying to reconcile how Black Widow can kill these next generation Skrull duplicates with just a handgun. I mean, if that is all it takes, then much of this ‘Secret Invasion’ could be stopped by the military because, you know, they have guns.

My customary rant aside, the best line of the whole issue comes courtesy of Wolverine. “Carrot sticks.” Heh.

And while I have your attention, let me confirm that Wolverine does NOT appear in ‘Ultimate Origins’ #2 (another back story-heavy tale by Brian Michael Thomas Bendis). Nor was Harry Truman Vice-President in 1942 for that matter.

From Marvel: “The world has turned upside down! The Skrulls have taken the Earth as part of their empire, the Avengers and Initiative are scattered…but there are two people who want some answers. One has a hammer and one has a shield.” On sale July 10, 2008.

Let me pull back the veil a little today since new comics won’t arrive until Thursday and I’ve already published sales analysis and Wolverine news earlier in the week.

You may have noticed that I’ve been making changes to the site recently — moving to a daily publishing schedule, increasing the size of the covers in posts, and the addition of new features like the aforementioned sales analysis.

I would also like to publicly thank frequent commenter ‘EmperorVamp’ who was kind enough to nominate ‘Wolverine Files’ for the Project Fanboy Awards (I’ll let you know when voting starts).

And finally, I want to acknowledge ‘Roleplay Adventures’ for recent kind words and comments…

You ever think of setting up an ‘Ask DiG’ section? I know myself that I would enjoy being able to come to you with questions on the X-Men. For example I came across a comic that I thought was very interesting.

The Marvel Database says the issue contains a ‘Wolverine’ who has become a ”pure rage with god-like fighting abilities.” Also there is suppose to be a story in their where “Logan is the last living man on the planet after a worldwide virus and a nuclear winter.”

I haven’t seen you comment on any of these stories or reference them. So since you have briefly mentioned non-canon story lines like ‘Wolverine: The End’ and ‘Marville,’ I’m really anxious to hear your opinion on it. Perhaps you can review old requests based on the demand?

Let me address this issue first. To quote the back cover, ‘X-Men: Millennial Visions’ (2000) “…is a trip through the next evolutionary phase of the X-Men. Over 24 of today’s hottest artists give us a look at what they believe the future holds for the followers of Xavier’s dream.” A follow up issue was done in 2001 with Alex Ross contributing. So while intriguing, all of these version of the X-Men were limited to a single pinup and a one-page pitch.

As for answering questions on a weekly basis, I would love to do that, but frankly I am short on time as it is since updating the chronology is really my top priority. Plus I am woefully behind on questions sent to me over the past two years!

That said, I will attempt to catch up on old questions over the next few months and once I am caught up, I will start fielding a fresh batch. Cool?

Hulk vs. Wolverine, direct-to-DVD, premieres at San Diego Comic Con on July 24th and available in stores January 2009.

Marvel states, “This dark, violent, smash and slash story was first told in issue 181 of THE INCREDIBLE HULK and the rematches have continued to thrill comic fans ever since. Now Marvel and Lionsgate takes the best of those famous comic book battles and merges them into one heart pounding 33-minute story.”

Want more details? Marvel continues…

ALBERTA, Canada. Over the past week, The INCREDIBLE HULK has been tearing a line across the Canadian wilderness, leaving a swathe of destruction in his wake. He has to be stopped, and there’s only one man up to the job.

He’s the best at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice.

He’s WOLVERINE, an elite agent of Canada’s top secret Department H, and he’s been put on Hulk’s trail with a single objective: stop the Green Goliath… at all costs.

Hulk and Wolverine are about to enter the fiercest battle of their lives. And they have no idea that there are a few unpleasant surprises waiting for them on the other side.

And from earlier in the summer, Marvel announced, “WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN marks the return of Marvel’s most Uncanny mutant heroes to the small screen and in 2009 the first 26 episodes of this new saga will begin airing on NICKTOONS.”

Like ‘Hulk vs. Wolverine,” this series will be debuting at the San Diego Comic Con. Watch the first trailer here.

Following the huge success of ‘Ultimate Spider-Man,’ Marvel decided to ultimatize their mutants and launched ‘Ultimate X-Men’ in December of 2000. The first issue logged impressive sales of 116,017, but those numbers didn’t last, dropping down to the 90,000 range over the next 2 1/2 years.

The letters on the chart above correspond to spikes in sales as articulated below (some sales increases significant, but most less so):

– A: Issue 34 (sales of 110,753) began Brian Bendis’ Wolverine-Spider-Man crossover
– B: Issue 38 (sales of 117,729) featured Brian Bendis and Ultimate Phoenix
– C: Issue 50 (sales of 103,154) boasted Brian K. Vaughan and Ultimate Gambit
– D: Issue 61 (sales of 87,097) kicked Brian K. Vaughan’s final run
– E: Issue 75 (sales of 73,837) starred Ultimate Cable by Robert Kirkman
– F: Issue 87 (sales of 63,028) offered up the Ultimate Sentinels by Robert Kirkman

Actual data comes from the monthly top 300 charts generated by ICv2.com.

Previous sales overview include
–‘Wolverine: Origins’ Sales Freefall
–Sales Overview for ‘Wolverine’ Vol. 2, uh… Vol. 3?
–Sales Overview for ‘Astonishing X-Men’ #1-24 (and Giant-Size)

“More charts! More charts!”

The pleas of the masses have been heard!

The ‘Astonishing X-Men’ run by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (through issue 24 and the Giant-Size finale) kicked off with unbelievable first issue sales of 209,389 in May 2004 before plateauing to still impressive numbers (between 120,000 and 140,000) for most of its run.

And despite a slight downturn to 105,508 to wrap things up, overall sales were fairly consistent considering only 25 issues came out over the course of four years.

Compare that to other titles during the same period and ‘Astonishing X-Men’ proved to be quite… uh… astonishing.

Actual data comes from the monthly top 300 charts generated by ICv2.com.

Avengers/Invaders #3
“Book Three: Homefront”
Plot: Alex Ross & Jim Krueger: Script: Jim Krueger
Pencils: Steve Sadowski

Last issue, Wolverine uttered only five words in two panels.

He doesn’t fare much better with issue #3.

Four panels. Two words.

“She’s here.”

I mean, what’s the point?

Even Iron Fist, mute in this issue, was positively loquacious last issue with 11 words.

Where’s the love?

From Marvel (preview): “The King of Atlantis vs the Prince of Atlantis with an entire kingdom as the ultimate prize. Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Steve Sadowski continue the year’s most surprising cross-time epic with a battle that promises to tear two centuries asunder.” On sale July 2, 2008.

Astonishing X-Men #25
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Simone Bianchi

Let me be clear.

Warren Ellis is one of my favorite writers. ‘Planetary’ is quite possibly the best comic book series I have ever read. ‘Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.’ was an absolute hoot. And his run on ‘Authority’ was nothing short of brilliant.

So while following Joss Whedon and John Cassaday on ‘Astonishing X-Men’ might seem like coming on stage after the Beatles, I really thought Ellis and Bianchi would be up to the challenge.

Alas, they are not.

Ellis’ premiere issue is heavy on dialogue, scene setting and lacks that that final page punch that Whedon excelled at. Bianchi tries some interesting art stylings, but they seem overly heavy compared to the previous look of the book.

Joss Whedon and John Cassaday blew me away in their first issue of ‘Astonishing X-Men.’ As for Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi, I’m still waiting to be astonished.

From Marvel (preview): “It’s the book you’ve been waiting for. The superstar team of Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi are ready to take the X-Men to the ‘Second Stage’! ‘Messiah CompleX’ pulled the X-Men team together, ‘Divided We Stand’ tore them apart. Now the X-Men are back to business — with a new look, a new base of operations, and a mystery to solve that will take them into previously uncharted territory and test them to their core!” On sale July 2, 2008.

005: Sabretooth and Silver Fox (v. 3.00) of the ‘Wolverine Files’ chronology is now live, and completely updated, rewritten and transitioned into blog format.

I know, I know. Try not to faint.

So the first six chapters of the ‘Wolverine Files’ chronology are now completely updated and transitioned with quite a few more still to go.

— 000: True Origins
— 001: Wild Child
— 002: The Origin
— 003: Young Logan
— 004: The Amazing Skunk-Bear
— 005: Sabretooth and Silver Fox

So give them a run-through and let me know what you think!

DiG…

X-Men: Legacy #213
Writer: Mike Carey
Penciler: Scot Eaton; Inker: Andrew Hennessy

Wolverine doesn’t appear in this issue.

But there is a cool flashback to ‘Uncanny X-Men’ #129 when Xavier states, “Scott, tell Wolverine that his childish outburst will cost him ten demerits.”

To which Cyclops responds, “Ten, or ten thousand, it won’t make a difference. Wolverine’s a grown man, who’s learned his skills in the field. Treating him like a schoolboy won’t work, Professor. I tried it that way and I failed.”

I wonder if Mike Carey needs credit to Chris Claremont for nearly a page of dialogue?

From Marvel (Preview): “Xavier traces his history and the history of the X-Men to the core. What he finds will shock you. And what do Rogue, Gambit and Sebastian Shaw have to do with it?” On sale June 25, 2008.