We took a look today at Internal Correspondence, the predecessor of ICv2, from November of 1990 and share here some of the top news stories, and the top of the Capital City Distribution Top 100 Comics chart of comics ordered for shipment that month.

The lead story, titled “Market Softens in Second-Half Slip,” discussed a slowdown in sales by comic stores in the second half of 1990.  Two hits in June, Spider-Man #1, by Todd McFarlane, and Aliens vs. Predator #1, from Dark Horse, were the last big sellers, according to the report.  Reasons cited for a slowdown were a rapid proliferation in the number of new releases in the graphic novel category, tougher competition caused by a rapid growth in the number of comic stores in response to the Batman craze the previous year (tied to the release of the Tim Burton Batman movie), and macro-economic factors.  

Capital City Distribution was suggesting graphic novel titles for retailers to stock for the holidays, which included a number of titles that are still being stocked for the holidays in 2015:  Watchmen, Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns, and Batman:  The Killing Joke, for three.   

Scott McCloud was ending his run on Zot, with #36. 

Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s original graphic novel Elektra Lives Again was anxiously anticipated.

The top ten dollar comics and graphic novels of the month, based on orders placed with Capital City by comic stores for November (which may or may not have actually shipped in November), multiplied by the cover price (listed here in parentheses), were:

1. Spider-Man #6 ($1.75)
2. Batman: Bride of the Demon ($19.95)
3. Wolverine:  Bloodlust ($4.95)
4. Captain America:  Classic Years ($75)
5. Masterworks 15:  Silver Surfer ($34.95)
6. Robin #1 ($1.00)
7. Justice League International #1 ($2.95)
8. X-Men #272 ($1.00)
9. Enemy Ace:  War Idyll ($24.95)
10. Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #15 ($1.50)