What's Happening with DC's Kids Comics? Part II

Back in late July I blogged about the uncertain future of DC's line of kid-friendly comics. Three weeks later we now have a bit more clarity:

• Although they didn't appear in the online solicitations, both Tiny Titans and the Tiny Titans/L'il Archie comics showed up in Previews. It appears that the Archie crossover will not be replacing the regular Tiny Titans comics on the schedule, meaning for four months we'll get double the usual TT goodness. Aww Yeah!

• At SDCC, Dan Didio revealed what many have always suspected, that DC's kids' comics lose money for the company. But he also affirmed DCE's commitment to publish titles aimed towards younger readers regardless.

• Also at SDCC, Didio said that there is a DC Kids version of the DC Comics App in the works. This seems like an excellent idea, especially if they keep the cost of the digital comics at 99¢. They have so much past material to draw from, and most of the stories are single-issue or less.

• Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! is indeed ending, going out with a two-parter. 

• Batman: The Brave and the Bold is being replaced on the schedule with The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold. The new series will team up Batman with bigger names from the DCU, such as Superman and Captain Marvel, rather than the B- and C-listers. While I must admit that I prefer seeing the far reaches of the DCU explored, I'm fairly confident that the new creative team of Sholly Fisch & Rick Burchett will give us fun and interesting stories.

• Also, we learned that the current season of the Batman: The Brave and the Bold cartoon will be the last. There are fourteen remaining episodes to air. But a Young Justice cartoon is in the works, and I will not be surprised to see a tie-in comic for that show once it debuts.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morninig. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid 5: The Ugly Truth *
2 (+1). Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life
3 (-1). Scott Pilgrim Volume 6: Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour
4 (-). Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 2: Scott Pilgrim Versus The World
5 (-). Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 3: Scott Pilgrim & the Infinite Sadness
6 (+14). Kick-Ass
7 (-1). Walking Dead Volume 12
8 (+2). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
9 (+2). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
10 (-2). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
11 (+4). The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future
12 (-3). Blackest Night
13 (-1). Troublemaker Book 1: Alex Barnaby Series 3
14 (-). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
15 (+35). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
16 (R). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
17 (+3). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
18 (+3). Watchmen
19 (-6). Green Lantern: Blackest Night
20 (-2). Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps
21 (N). Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love
22 (N). Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight Volume 7: Twilight *
23 (-). American Born Chinese
24 (-2). Batman: Year One
25 (-9). Siege
26 (+10). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
27 (+6). Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps
28 (-1). Dark Tower: The Battle of Jericho Hill *
29 (-3). Odd Is on Our Side *
30 (+2). The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb
31 (-12). The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 40
32 (+9). The Walking Dead Volume 11: Fear The Hunters
33 (N). Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 3 *
34 (-9). Blackest Night: Black Lantern Corps Vol. 1
35 (R). V for Vendetta
36 (+3). Batman: The Killing Joke
37 (-). The Walking Dead, Book 2
38 (-8). Blackest Night: Rise of the Black Lanterns
39 (R). The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale
40 (-5). The Walking Dead, Book 1
41 (+2). Batwoman: Elegy
42 (+4). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
43 (-9). Locke & Key: Crown of Shadows
44 (-20). Warriors: Ravenpaw's Path #3: The Heart of a Warrior
45 (-16). Blackest Night: Black Lantern Corps Vol. 2
46 (N). The Unwritten Vol. 2: Inside Man *
47 (R). Blacksad
48 (R). Blankets
49 (-5). The Walking Dead Book 5
50 (-2). The Walking Dead, Book 3


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

* The movie opens today, but Scott Pilgrim still cannot wrestle the top slot from the upcoming new Wimpy Kid volume. It's pretty close though; WK is at #20 on the overall list, while SP is at #24, 30, 36, & 42.I would not be surprised to see Scott Pilgrim slink back into the top spot over the weekend if the movie is received well.

* I continue to be surprised by the fact that the home video release of Kick-Ass continues to stoke interest in the collection. (Note that it is at #270 on the overall list, meaning there is a huge sales gap between spots 5 & 6 on the list).

* The University Effect is now in full swing, with Persepolis, Maus, Understanding Comics, Fun Home, Watchmen, and The Dark Knight Returns all landing prominently high on the list.

* The highest debut belongs to Fables spin-off Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love, with the newest Buffy volume close behind. Also debuting are the latest volumes of Maximum Ride and The Unwritten.