‘Absolute Batman’ muscles back to No. 1
Word Balloons #1277: Bane appearance drives top comic-book title sales
Vengeance of Bane indeed.
The first appearance of the Absolute Universe version of Bane takes place in “Absolute Batman” #9, rocketing the title back to the No. 1 sales spot at Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, OK, for June 2025.
With “H2SH” on hiatus in “Batman” to allow the creative team some time to catch up, the #2 spot went to “The New History of the DC Universe” #1, by writer Mark Waid and artists Jerry Ordway and Todd Nauck, as Waid weaves DC continuity into a master timeline.
“Absolute Superman” #8 comes in at No. 3; other “Super” titles ranking are “Krypto” #1 at #12 and “Superman Unlimited” #2 at #19.
In a rare back-to-back top 10 appearance, “Invincible Presents: Battle Beast” #1 lands at #4. (The second issue of “Battle Beast” sees a drop-off, landing at #25.)
Marvel makes a move into the top 5 with “Amazing Spider-Man” #6 at #5; the earlier issue for the month, “Amazing Spider-Man” #5, lands at #9.
Three more “Absolute” titles make the top 10: “Flash” at 6, “Green Lantern” at #7 and “Wonder Woman” at #10. “Absolute Martian Manhunter” #4 drops to #17.
Growling its way into the top 10 from Keenspot is “Mark Spears Monsters” #5, the painted horror title that’s grabbed the imagination of fans. It slices its way to #8 this month.
More monsters of a sort top the collected editions list, with the Compact Classics edition of “DCeased,” featuring DC heroes turned to zombies, tops the June list. The Compact Classics edition of “Superman: Birthright” comes in at #5.
Robert Kirkman’s Skybound imprint nabs spots #2, #3, #4 and #10. “G.I. Joe: Vol. 1: Cobra Strikes” comes in at No. 2. Another “Energon Universe” title lands at #4, the “Void Rivals” vol. 1 hardcover.
At No. 10 is the third volume of Skybound’s issues from Larry Hama’s “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” chronology.
Grabbing the #3 spot, written by Kirkman himself with artists Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, is the “Invincible Compendium” Vol. 1. Issues #0-47 are collected in this paperback edition, likely gaining continued attention due to the animated series.
Marvel’s top title is the Marvel Premiere edition of “Fantastic Four: Solve Everything,” from Jonathan Hickman and artists including Dale Eaglesham and Steve Epting. Another “Fantastic Four” in the top 10 is the new edition of “Fantastic Four: 1234” from Grant Morrison and Jae Lee.
Rumors and speculation in part drive interest in back-issue sales, and with rumors abounding for this character, we see the combination of “Incredible” and “Immortal” Hulk back issues putting the Jade Giant in the #1 spot.
Next is “Amazing Spider-Man,” which for perhaps unclear reasons we didn’t combine series as we did with the Hulk – the “Spider-Man” series comes in at No. 6, and “Spectacular Spider-Man” lands at No. 7.
Image’s sole entry on the top 10 back issue sales this month comes with Robert Kirkman’s “Invincible” at #3. Marvel grabs the #4 spot with Captain America, while DC gets its sole top 10 entry for back issues this month at #5 with “Action Comics” as the Superman movie prepared for its July debut.
Wrapping up the top 10 are 3 more Marvel titles: Fantastic Four, X-Factor, and Iron Man.
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewLprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.
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