Batman #148 snagged DC’s top spot (#8 overall). It was crafted by 48-year-old Toronto writer Chip Zdarsky (Daredevil) and 38-year-old Spanish artist Jorge Jiménez (Justice League). In this issue, Batman and his allies unite to stop the ruthless, rogue personality Zur-En-Arrh from taking over Gotham City. Hype for the “Dark Prisons” finale ensured massive retail orders.

Batman #149 secured second place for DC (#10 overall). The same powerhouse duo of Zdarsky and Jiménez brought their A-game to this highly anticipated follow-up. In this book, Bruce Wayne struggles to rebuild his life and heal his fractured family in the emotional aftermath of war against his inner demons. Fans eagerly bought copies for the massive status quo shifts.

DC locked down its third big win with Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 (#14 overall). This prelude was spearheaded by 62-year-old California icon Mark Waid (Kingdom Come) and 42-year-old Joshua Williamson, featuring art by Gleb Melnikov and Skylar Patridge. In this crucial prologue, Amanda Waller unites Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen to strip the world’s metahumans of their superpowers.

Collector tastes heavily favor tightly coordinated, universe-altering events and high-profile milestones over standalone, slow-burn stories. Moving forward, collectors will likely continue prioritizing finite crossover event books and primary superhero milestones, forcing publishers to rely heavily on massive summer blockbusters to sustain high sales figures.