[SPEAKER_01]: Is DC Comics winning the very uncover war?
[SPEAKER_01]: Absolute Batman No.
[SPEAKER_01]: 20 sells 500,000 TMNT 300 tops 200,000 copies sold.
[SPEAKER_01]: This is comic book club news for June 9, 2026.
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of talk about the resurgence of variant covers and blind bags in the comic book industry and now we have some interesting data to back this up specifically that DC Comics is winning the variant cover war.
[SPEAKER_01]: The report comes via iCV2 which of note is getting data from quote a major direct market retailer for a period of six months curiously the outlet doesn't specify which retailers.
[SPEAKER_01]: to take this all with a grain of salt as a snapshot of the industry rather than letter of the law.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's it of the comics this mystery retailer order is variance account from anywhere from 52-80% to the copies and account for 34-43% of new comic revenue.
[SPEAKER_01]: meaning specifically single issues rather than trades.
[SPEAKER_01]: While you should really check out ICV2 for more granularity, some highlights here are that DC Comics' tops with 37.2% of unit sales accounted for by variant covers and a whopping 43.4% of dollar sales.
[SPEAKER_01]: which is at least in part because of the increased price for DC variants.
[SPEAKER_01]: Marvel comes in second with variants at 33.5% of unit sales and 38.7% of dollar sales, while all other publishers break down to 28.6% and 33.7% respectively.
[SPEAKER_01]: Short version?
[SPEAKER_01]: There's money in them
[SPEAKER_01]: One title that might have contributed to DC's big variant cover win.
[SPEAKER_01]: Absolute Batman number 20, which reportedly released over 100 variant covers.
[SPEAKER_01]: And according to writer Scott Snyder, sold over 500,000 copies.
[SPEAKER_01]: The news comes via Snyder's Twitter account to think he still uses apparently, where the writer had reposted a negative comment about President Trump's attendance at the NBA Finals.
[SPEAKER_01]: Another Twitter user, which summits the fact that there are at least two that are still using the site beyond all reason, quoted that tweet.
[SPEAKER_01]: Text, writer, and to cry that he was, quote, reposting trash like this, knowing that he needs to appeal to both sides of the aisle, if he wants anything he does to sell.
[SPEAKER_01]: Just complete derangement.
[SPEAKER_01]: Replied, writer, quote, issue 20 sold over 500k, brother.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've been the same way on here for 15 years, keep trying, though.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well not specified, Snyder was clearly talking about absolute Batman number 20, which seems to be a new record for the already blockbuster title.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well next issue, go even higher with the official debut of absolute 2,000 absolute penguins, stay tuned for that news and more on Twitter.
[SPEAKER_01]: A great website if you love Nazis and financially supporting pedophilia generating AI.
[SPEAKER_01]: Continuing the theme of today's episode, I guess.
[SPEAKER_01]: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 300 is sold more than 200,000 copies in advance of the release of the book.
[SPEAKER_01]: That means to be clear that comic bookstores have ordered 200,000 copies of the anniversary issue, which includes...
[SPEAKER_01]: Guess what?
[SPEAKER_01]: 11 covers plus multiple blind bag exclusives and a blank sketch cover.
[SPEAKER_01]: For the first item, that seems to be good business.
[SPEAKER_01]: And the issue itself will likely be solid too, featuring the kickoff to a new arc by Gene Loon Yang and Freddy E. Williams II.
[SPEAKER_01]: TMNT 300 hit stores on July 22nd, 2026.
[SPEAKER_01]: For comic book club news, I'm Alex Zellman.
[SPEAKER_01]: And what I like to do is buy one copy of the comic to read and 15 copies to save so my kids can sell them for a nickel each at a yard sale after I die.
[SPEAKER_01]: Got tips or stories you'd like us to cover?
[SPEAKER_01]: Email us at comic bookclublive at gmail.com For more comic book news, reviews, and interviews, check out comic bookclublive.com.
[SPEAKER_01]: Listen early and add free on patreon.com slash comic book club.