Make excuses all you want, but the fact that Marvel is publishing ZERO titles with a non-white (Outside of USM which isnt even in continuity), non-male, and non-straight lead is utterly pathetic. Could you imagine the kind of backlash DC would be getting this is the case? It’s ridiculous and really speaks to the inherent bias in comics journalism when it comes to Marvel vs DC.

@Darth Rath – I have avoided Marvel events for years, but have been picking up the Fearless simply because it’s basically a Valkyrie-led title. It’s actually pretty good, and I would love it if Marvel was able to push her up a few notches in popularity, even if it was only to support an occasional mini-series or something.

@Rubin – Man, oh man… I would go nuts for a J.H. Williams III Invisible Woman title. It just kind of blows my mind.

re: “it’s not BECAUSE female characters don’t sell.”

No, not entirely, but that’s a big part of it because they historically don’t.

re: “It’s because fanboys only reliably support a few concepts/characters in comics.”

Or to put it another way, it’s because fangirls don’t support these kind of books in big numbers when Marvel does put them out. Or rather, they don’t have the “numbers” to support something enough to be a big seller. The new Wonder Woman book sells because the majority of fanBOYS like it. Not because women are so gaga over it they’ve turned out in huge numbers to “make” it a big seller. So for someone to say that a book with a female lead doesn’t sell because they traditionally don’t speak to fanBOYS is simply an inane statement. The truth of the matter is that the only reason books with a female lead character sells as good as it does is precisely because it has fanBOY support. If women were the only audience for comic books, there would be no comic book industry, period.

Oh well, c’est la vie.

great point about too many titles cannibalizing sales of other titles as fans have limited budget and concentrate on “core” books. That certainly could contribute to the poor sales.

I think a lot of the problem is the fact that Marvel already puts out too many core X-Men titles as it is.

Let’s say you’re on a budget – maybe half a dozen titles a month. Well, now Marvel just added another core X-Men title with Wolverine & the X-Men. So if you want to keep up on the core, you’ve got to drop another title, like an X-23.

People are likely already choosing between core titles and solo/spin-offs. And when you’ve got X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine & the X-Men, and then Astonishing X-Men, X-Men Legacy, Uncanny X-Force, Generation Hope, I’m sure I’m forgetting one or two…

Thing is, some of the most beloved books out there are still crap for sales. I think there’s a feeling that DC and Marvel have put out more and more titles to fill shelves over the years than simply because they believe the books are good or have a reason to exist. So when a title is actually really well-done, original, or has some hidden potential, it’s nearly impossible to get enough people to take a chance on it if it doesn’t have an X/Avengers/Justice League moniker in the title.

I don’t know if there ever was any real demand for an X-23 solo book, but Marvel at least at the stones to try it. Now, that kinda’ sounds stupid, because the way they flood the market, they seem to be willing to try ANYTHING. But this was a female lead book with a female writer (one of several Marvel has had lately). It may’ve been lost in the shuffle, or it may not have been good, I don’t know. But give ‘em credit for trying.

I’ve heard a lot of terrific things about the X-23 title, so it’s sad. One of those situations where I couldn’t have gotten myself interested in the character (Wolverine I already don’t enjoy much. Spin-offs of him are even less enticing), but the creators were taking risks and doing some fun stuff. Doesn’t normally give you high sales, but the readers already on board tend to love it.

I do see Storm as Marvel’s closest to Wonder Woman, save for the fact that she’s always been based in a team, and never done a solo book. Also, since she’s one of (what’s the number now?) many, many mutants, it’s harder to give her her own mythos.

But yeah. Sad, but not Marvel’s fault. Some of DC’s female-lead books aren’t ones I can say I’m happy with being on shelves (while others are terrific). I’m sure they’ll get something new in the mix soon, either way.

Marvel’s stable of female characters has always been strong. Marvel’s sales threshold for books has always been higher than DC both before and post reboot. In fact the cutoff number must have been raised higher because of the demands of the CEO.

The real question is why fans don’t buy the books or support when marvel puts them out. Instead of preparing lists and comparing publishing practices, support the books with your cash. X-23 was consistently good comics from issue one. Instead you have people talking about dreck like Red Hood, Voodoo and Catwoman. What’s worse is that the exposure, good or bad, raises sales on those books.

Support Avengers Academy and Thunderbolts with your cash if you don’t want them to get cancelled.

Seriously though, Marvel should try its own Birds of Prey-type book. Actually, just take the women of Nextwave and Marvel Divas, (so: Monica Rambeau, Elsa Bloodstone, Tabitha Smith, Black Cat, Firestar, and Hellcat) plus X-23 and I would buy the hell out of that book. With occasional cameos by the Daughters of the Dragon.

Oh damn, why is that not a thing? I really really want it now.

It’s not too hard to predict. Instead of lamenting the loss now, why not promote lower selling titles at Marvel which you read and love ?

there’s also still Ghost Rider and aren’t several X-titles female led and/or front loaded? (Legacy, Generation Hope)

Also, slam on Marvel, but how many of DCs female leads aren’t derivative of Male characters besides Wonder Woman. Even Catwoman is kind of a bat knock-off…