DC is selling the most variant covers, according to a new report. Absolute Batman #20 has sold over 500,000 copies. TMNT #300 tops 300,000 copies sold.
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Episode Transcript:
DC Comics winning variant cover war?
Absolute Batman #20 sells 500k.
TMNT #300 tops 200k copies sold.
This is Comic Book Club News for June 9, 2026.
DC Comics Winning Variant Cover War, According To New Report:
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.
The report comes via ICv2, which of note is getting data from “a major direct market retailer” for a period of six months. Curiously, the outlet doesn’t specify which retailer, so take this all with a grain of salt as a snapshot of the industry, rather than letter of the law.
That said, of the comics this mystery retailer orders, variants account for anywhere from 50 to 80% of the copies, and account for 34-43% of “new comic revenue.”
While you should really check out ICv2 for more granularity, some highlights here are that DC Comics is tops with 37.2% of unit sales accounted for by variant covers, and a whopping 43.4% of dollar sales, given the increased price for DC variants. 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.
Short version? There’s money in them there variant covers… At least for now.
Absolute Batman #20 Sells 500,000 Copies:
One title that might have contributed to DC’s big variant cover win? Absolute Batman #20, which reportedly released over 100 variant covers, and according to writer Scott Snyder sold over 500,000 copies.
The news comes via Snyder’s Twitter account, where the writer had reposted a negative comment about President Trump’s attendance at the NBA finals. Another Twitter user quoted that Tweet, tagged Snyder, and decried that he was “reposting trash like this knowing that he needs to appeal to both sides of the aisle if he wants anything he does to sell. Just complete derangement.”
Replied Snyder, “Issue 20 sold over 500k brother. I’ve been the same way on here for fifteen years. Keep trying though!”
While not specified, Snyder was clearly talking about Absolute Batman #20, which seems to be a new record for the already blockbuster title. Will next issue go even higher with the official debut of Absolute Two-Face and Absolute Penguin? Stay tuned for that news and more on Twitter, a great website if you love Nazis and financially supporting pedophilia-generating AI.
TMNT #300 Tops 200,000 Copies Sold:
Continuing the theme of today’s episode, I guess, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #300 has sold more than 200,000 copies in advance of the release of the book.
That means, to be clear, that comic book stores have ordered 200,000 copies of the anniversary issue, which includes — guess what — 11 covers, plus multiple Blind Bag exclusives. Per the first item, that seems to be good business, and the issue itself will likely be solid, too, featuring a kick-off to a new arc by Gene Luen Yang and Freddie E. Williams II.
TMNT #300 hits stores on July 22, 2026.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And what I like to do is buy one copy of a 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.
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
For more comic book news, reviews, and interviews, check out comicbookclublive.com.
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