Batman #1 has sold 500,000 copies. Writer Gretchen Felker-Martin has revealed a likely canceled DC horror project. The Last Starfighter is coming to comics.
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Episode Transcript:
Batman sells 500,000 copies.
Gretchen Felker-Martin reveals likely canceled DC horror comic.
The Last Starfighter comes to comics.
This is Comic Book Club News for September 19, 2025.
Batman #1 Sells 500,000 Copies:
Looks like 500,000 is the new 400,000. The high bar for comic book sales when it comes to the main publishers has been 400k copies sold to comic book stores, which we’ve seen for DC Comics‘ Absolute Batman #1 and Skybound/Image Comics’ Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1. But now? That barrier has been broken, thanks to Batman #1. The newest volume of the iconic title has sold over 500,000 copies to comic book stores, as shared with Comic Book Club by DC Comics.
Written by Matt Fraction with art by Jorge Jiménez, the sold-out first issue is headed back for a second printing. But this number only counts for the first printing of the “new” series, which sported nine plus covers, as well as a “Blind as a Bat” blind bag program that sent some retailers into a frenzy. So the success of the launch was all but guaranteed. Still, 500k is a pretty impressive number of copies sold to comic book shops (though the usual caveat here: this is copies sold to shops, not copies sold at the shops, meaning to real human people who walked out of the store with them).
That all said? It’s more than likely that number will be met or surpassed, and possibly even several times, by the end of the year. Marvel’s Deadpool/Batman #1 hit stores this week and is the first crossover between Marvel and DC in over two decades — and then in November, DC will release their own Batman/Deadpool #1. Later this year, DC has DC K.O. #1, the kick-off of their next massive event, while Marvel will be releasing the highly anticipated Ultimate Endgame #1 on December 31. Both will include the now hot-as-the-sun blind bag promotion, so it’s possible either could see over 500,000 in sales… Though Marvel doesn’t release sales figures, so it’ll actually be impossible to know what is actually the best-selling comic of the year. Alright then, Marvel. Keep your secrets!
Anyway, if your retailer did sell out of Batman #1 and/or you want to pick up the second printing, that’ll hit with brand new covers on October 15.
Gretchen Felker-Martin Reveals Likely Canceled DC Horror Comic:
Over a week ago, DC Comics abruptly canceled its Red Hood comic. Well, as it turns out, there is likely a second comic that won’t see the light of day from Red Hood writer Gretchen Felker-Martin, as well. Specifically, a creator-owned horror comic.
The news comes from Felker-Martin’s BlueSky account, where she was banned last week, but is now back. Said Felker-Martin: “So, the gig at DC is over. I imagine the original horror comic I had cooking with their creator-owned imprint is gone as well.”
While Felker-Martin doesn’t specify, given DC’s current publishing structure, it’s extremely likely she’s referring to DC’s revitalized Vertigo imprint, which is announcing its initial slate at a panel at New York Comic Con. Versus the mainline DC Comics or even the Black Label line, Vertigo is the creator-owned imprint, and traditionally — i.e., back when Vertigo was around the first time — was home to multiple lauded horror comic books. It’s entirely possible that Felker-Martin’s Vertigo horror comic was part of the planned announcement in a month’s time, on the back of the likely success of Red Hood.
And having a horror comic from Felker-Martin makes sense, too, because she works as a best-selling horror writer, and has two novels coming up over the next year; comics were essentially a side gig.
As is, we’ll have to wait and see whether temperatures have calmed down enough in October for the title to continue. Though given the thrust of Felker-Martin’s posts, which run a little spicier than this podcast usually goes, it doesn’t seem likely she would want to continue with DC, regardless.
The Last Starfighter Comes To Comics:
Back in 1984, The Last Starfighter was released in theaters. Focusing on a kid named Alex who is so good at video games that he gets to go into space and fight to save the galaxy, there was absolutely nothing that I found aspirational about that on any level, as a fellow Alex who was also obsessed with video games. But anyway, more than 40 years later, The Last Starfighter is back – not in POG form, but as a comic book from Mad Cave Studios.
Said Jonathan Betuel, who wrote the original movie, “Greetings, Starfighters! I’m thrilled to be collaborating with the stellar team at Mad Cave and Paul Davidson to elevate Starfighter into the multiverse. Long overdue, we’re all eager to chronicle the Herculean undertaking of Alex Rogan as he finds himself charged with rebuilding the legendary starfighter legion.”
Betuel, along with producer Paul Davidson, will be leading the team; though the comic itself will be written by Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes, with art by Willi Roberts and colors by Francesco Segala.
While the announcement is light on details otherwise, Mad Cave also teases that this is the beginning of an expanded The Last Starfighter universe, and that the new comic is slated to debut in June of 2026.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. Now bring back Krull, and we’re in business.
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
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