Cancelation Nation — Is DC Comics Heading For Another Implosion?

When DC Comics announced its decision in 2011 to have the conclusion of Flashpoint end with the complete rebooting—well almost complete, we’ll get to that—of their universe, resulting in 52 brand new number one issues, there was a large mix of excitement, consternation, and skepticism.

But they did it anyway, and in September of 2011, we got a brand new universe, the first Action Comics #1 in over seven decades, new characters reimagined and starring in their own books, and a mix of books beyond the more popular heroics of the Batmen and Wonder Women.

And, commercially, it was a success.  DC posted the highest sales they’d had in recent years, and took the lead over Marvel for the first time in what seemed like forever.

Everything was coming up Milhouse.

Until it wasn’t.

“Hey!  What do you mean by that?!”

The reality is that the New 52, as it was dubbed, was not something sustainable in the long run.  Debut issues are going to be big sellers, especially during such a dramatic turn of events for the company post-Flashpoint, so, really, it wasn’t going to take a rocket scientist to know that initial sales were going to be like cocaine in Hollywood.

But how about now, barely a year and half later?