NUMBER

This July, Si Spurrier and PJ Holden’s “Numbercruncher” from “2000 AD” is being collected, expanded and colored into a mini-series in its own right. For those who don’t read “2000 AD,” I’m glad that we’re getting a second chance to check this out, because based off the first issue, “Numbercruncher” is a lot of fun. “Numbercruncher” #1 opens on Zane, an enforcer for the Divine Calculator in the afterlife. There’s something fun about a suit-and-bowler-hat-wearing thug working as part of the afterlife, grabbing people for the Divine Calculator (think the stereotypical accountant, complete with classes, visor, and balding head) and moving them on. But as “Numbercruncher” #1 unfolds, there’s a lot more to this story than might initially meet the eye. When Richard Thyme makes a deal on being reincarnated with some certain conditions, it sets in motion a mixture of tragedy and comedy — along with Zane’s chance to finally be set free of his duties to the afterlife. Spurrier gives Zane a ver

Sales tracking service previously only included sales at book chains, indie bookstores, online purchases Kristen McLean — NPD Book executive director, business development — revealed in an interview posted on the ICv2 news website on Friday that BookScan plans to include data from comic book stores in partnership with Diamond Comics and indie retailers "in the coming year." The project is part of a larger initiative centering on comics and graphic novels. McLean added that NPD also plans to develop a new "license reporting service" in BookScan "that will allow many types of licenses and IP franchises including Comic franchises to be tracked and trended in BookScan for the first time." McLean will give a talk at the New York Comic Con Insider Sessions event that will include presenting a look at profile differences between people buying online, at local comic book stores, and at traditional brick and mortar retailers. ICv2 is hosting the event on October 5. NPD Group a

A new variant cover by artist Tony S. Daniel for November’s Superman #34 teases a Legacy-style renumbering that would take the comic to triple-digits for its 800th issue. When DC Comics launched its Rebirth publishing initiative, it continued the majority of its series with the numbering that began with the New 52 in 2011, with the notable exceptions of Action Comics and Detective Comics. Those two titles reverted back to their original numbering of #957 and #934, respectively, in a move Marvel Comics is currently implementing for a number of its long-running titles in Marvel Legacy. RELATED: Why Rebirth’s Mr. Oz Had To Be [SPOILER] According to a report on Newsarama, Superman is one of several series receiving legacy variants illustrated by Daniel. Arriving in stores this fall, the other variants include a Wonder Woman 700, Batman 800 and The Flash 700 also planned. Whether the series will make the change to reflect this in their actual month to month

It seems that Marvel’s “Fresh Start” won’t be eliminating Legacy numbers after all. Announced earlier today, this fresh start was expected to relaunch Marvel’s line of comics with new #1s. Senior VP and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort initially stated that some numbering will remain, but has since clarified this statement. Brevoort explained that Marvel Legacy isn’t exactly going away. “Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be rolling out new beginnings for a few of our key franchises — new creative teams, new starting points, new storylines — all the big stuff that we’ve been building towards since Marvel Legacy began,” he explained to Marvel.com. RELATED: Marvel Comics’ ‘Fresh Start’ Will Do Away With Legacy Numbering While he did reiterate that titles will be given new #1s, he also clarified that “we’ll be maintaining the classic Legacy issue counts as dual numbering on the

When Marvel Comics launches its “Fresh Start” publishing initiative with Avengers #1 in May, the publisher will implement changes to its relaunched series’ that honor the Legacy numbering of the past, while also providing newer readers a fresh jumping on point. Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski discussed these changes at Chicago’s C2E2 Diamond Comic Distributors retailer summit Thursday morning. The changes for all Issue #1’s include a brand new trade dress highlighting an issue’s creative team, a smaller UPC box, and dual numbering for the higher Legacy numbering and the lower, relaunched number. RELATED: Marvel Comics Announces a Line-Wide Overhaul in 2018 Cebulski added that the reason for the high and low numbering on the trade dress is to help collectors catalog their runs, which can become complicated when trying to calculate each relaunch and volume for a series. “Fresh Start” is just the lat