WEBVTT 00:00.311 --> 00:03.816 [SPEAKER_00]: absolute Batman leads graphic novel sales again. 00:03.856 --> 00:06.479 [SPEAKER_00]: Firefly returns to comics from dynamite. 00:06.499 --> 00:09.442 [SPEAKER_00]: Marvel's midnight universe shifts to October. 00:09.563 --> 00:11.825 [SPEAKER_00]: This is comic book club news for June 23rd, 2026. 00:29.406 --> 00:38.075 [SPEAKER_00]: In a surprise to absolutely nobody absolute Batman took the top two slots on the May 2026 sales charts for superhero graphic novels. 00:38.295 --> 00:50.128 [SPEAKER_00]: For ICB-2, DC Comics took 14 of the top 20 slots on the chart, breaking down to 7 absolute universe titles including both the soft cover and hardcover versions of Absbad Volume 1 and 2. 00:50.728 --> 01:00.803 [SPEAKER_00]: and eight compact comics editions with Batman The Court of Owls, Batman The Long Halloween, Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow and Nightwing leaping into the light rounding out the top six. 01:00.983 --> 01:05.590 [SPEAKER_00]: Marvel only snagged three slots on the chart all for their premiere editions, which have the same 01:05.590 --> 01:12.255 [SPEAKER_00]: Having done in one easy for new readers to grab purposes, compact comics that are slightly larger and cost $5 more. 01:12.375 --> 01:18.058 [SPEAKER_00]: Planet Hulk was number 7 while Punisher welcomed back Frank and Daredevil born again both charted. 01:18.199 --> 01:23.742 [SPEAKER_00]: Likely do at least impart to interest on the born-again TV show and Punisher special on Disney Plus. 01:23.782 --> 01:28.846 [SPEAKER_00]: The loan other publisher on the chart was IDW for TMNT the last run-in coming in at number 20. 01:29.266 --> 01:36.250 [SPEAKER_00]: Hey, if you're wondering where invincible was, well, that's been sorted over to another chart, which ranks books by author versus publisher. 01:36.330 --> 01:46.016 [SPEAKER_00]: On that chart, vaults adaptation of Matt Denman's Dungeon Crawler Carl came in at number 1, but Robert Kirkman reigned supreme with 10 volumes of invincible in the top 20. 01:55.743 --> 02:09.285 [SPEAKER_00]: Perhaps they shouldn't be quite as much of a surprise since Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel Comics have headed to Dynamite as well, but Firefly is back in comic book form with a new number one from Dynamite and a new creative team, Mark Russell and Lorenzo Rays. 02:09.325 --> 02:18.607 [SPEAKER_00]: Scubs hot on the heels of the fan, frenzy ignited by the not quite yet an actual animated series, but maybe someday, announcement by the cast of the beloved Fox, I-Fi show. 02:18.667 --> 02:23.048 [SPEAKER_00]: Here, Russell and Rays will deliver tales of the whole serenity crew during the period when 02:25.708 --> 02:30.851 [SPEAKER_00]: In the new series, PerPR quotes, now Reynolds is desperate for cash to keep serenity flying. 02:30.991 --> 02:39.015 [SPEAKER_00]: While Simon and Kaylee must pose as a married couple to pull off a heist, but end up with more than they bargained for when an old keeper comes back to haunt them. 02:39.035 --> 02:44.959 [SPEAKER_00]: The book also marks return to Dynamite for Russell after previously working for the company on Red Sonia and the Loan Ranger. 02:44.999 --> 02:45.839 [SPEAKER_00]: Firefly No. 02:45.859 --> 02:51.002 [SPEAKER_00]: 1 hit stores that September 2nd, 2026, with Guess What, Premium Mystery Blind Bags. 02:53.644 --> 02:55.434 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 02:59.517 --> 03:07.580 [SPEAKER_00]: Previously scheduled for August, September, and October, Marvel's midnight light of horror books will now all hit stores in October, aka Prime Spooky Season. 03:07.600 --> 03:10.861 [SPEAKER_00]: They'll also be the only comics Marvel releases on that day. 03:10.881 --> 03:16.323 [SPEAKER_00]: In case you missed the initial news, the three titles are Midnight X-Men by Jonathan Hickman and Mateo Delafonte. 03:16.383 --> 03:25.506 [SPEAKER_00]: Midnight Fat Testing 4 by Benjamin Percy and Kev Walker, and Midnight Spider-Man by Philip Kennedy Johnson and Sai Trong, all three are set in their own connected horror universe 03:28.747 --> 03:40.079 [SPEAKER_00]: Now listen, there's a level where one might speculate that the relatively muted two-negative response to the initial announcement may have dampened orders for the line, and this shift gives Marvel more time to hype it up. 03:40.139 --> 03:46.245 [SPEAKER_00]: For the more positive outlook, let's turn to midnight universe executive editor Dan Buckley, who said via press release 03:46.325 --> 04:00.476 [SPEAKER_00]: To more we talked about Midnight, the more we realized it was far more than just the birth of another universe, it was on an entirely different scale creatively, a doorway to something that was not only immediately exciting, but had immense long-term progress. 04:00.676 --> 04:09.663 [SPEAKER_00]: We wanted to match their ambition with this unique launch plan, one that allows both retailers and fans to fully immerse themselves into this new line right for the start. 04:09.703 --> 04:15.007 [SPEAKER_00]: The clock strikes Midnight on October 7, these three series will unleash a bold new energy that 04:15.147 --> 04:18.591 [SPEAKER_00]: And we hope Echos throughout the industry for the foreseeable future. 04:18.691 --> 04:22.595 [SPEAKER_00]: I guess we'll see when all three books release and stores on October 7, 2026. 04:22.635 --> 04:25.718 [SPEAKER_00]: For comic book club news, I'm Alex Albin. 04:25.818 --> 04:29.802 [SPEAKER_00]: And as we all know, Marvel's Mid-Nine is inspired by Taylor Swift's Mid-Nights. 04:30.183 --> 04:31.925 [SPEAKER_00]: True fact, not a true fact. 04:32.365 --> 04:34.307 [SPEAKER_00]: Got tips or stories you'd like us to cover? 04:34.507 --> 04:37.390 [SPEAKER_00]: Email us if comic book club live at gmail.com. 04:37.530 --> 04:42.335 [SPEAKER_00]: For more comic book news, reviews and interviews, check out comicbookclublive.com. 04:42.515 --> 04:47.040 [SPEAKER_00]: Listen early and add free on patreon.com 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