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So, did the financial meltdown have an effect on the periodical comics market in September? Probably not. DC Comics’ periodical business did take a massive hit, mind you, but that had more to do with Final Crisis than with the financial crisis. DC’s big blockbuster event failed to come out in September, and so did spin-off titles Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds and Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge. Batman, Justice League of America and Justice Society of America didn’t make it out, either, meaning that none of the publisher’s four top-selling titles on the August chart came out in September. The fact that DC’s average sales crashed to their lowest level in years didn’t come as a great surprise, consequently.

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The eight-month SECRET INVASION crossover continued to dominate Marvel’s output in September, sprawling across a whole load of tie-in books. Marvel are saving most of their new launches until after the event, but this month did see the launch of a new solo DEADPOOL series, as well as a second Stephen King adaptation, THE STAND.

As usual, Marvel had the largest market share in the direct market - the surprise is just how big it was. In dollar share, Marvel led DC by 45% to 27%. In unit share, the lead was a staggering 51% to 28%.

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With Final Crisis and Batman both showing up on shelves and spawning more crossover books, August was the strongest month for DC Comics’ periodical business in quite a while. Thanks to the new high-profile spin-off titles Final Crisis: Revelations, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, DC Universe: Last Will and Testament and Final Crisis: Superman Beyond, and to a persistently spectacular performance of the “Batman RIP” tie-ins, average sales of the publisher’s DC Universe line rose to their highest level to date in 2008.

The average periodical numbers of DC’s Vertigo and WildStorm sublabels, meanwhile, appear to be making some small progress towards climbing out of their respective all-time lows, although you wouldn’t guess it from looking at any individual titles.

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It’s month five of SECRET INVASION, and the crossover continues to dominate Marvel’s output. August also sees the X-books continuing their “Manifest Destiny” direction, and relaunches for RUNAWAYS and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY.

Marvel’s share of the North American direct market continues to hold up well. This time round, they beat DC in dollar share by 41% to 33%, and unit share by 48% to 33%. But there’s a fly in the ointment, as DM periodical sales have now been sliding for seven straight months. Graphic novels are up, but that’s entirely due to the sudden surge of WATCHMEN sales.

All a bit discouraging, then. But hey, what isn’t, these days? There was a time when comics used to be relatively recession-proof, but then in those days, Marvel weren’t charging four dollars for an issue of a miniseries.

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UNCANNY X-MEN celebrates five hundred issues, while SECRET INVASION enters a fourth month, with a range of crossover titles in tow. Marvel tend to save their major launches until after the crossovers have finished, but there’s a handful of new minis, as well as the debut of Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi on ASTONISHING X-MEN.

As usual, Marvel were by far the biggest publisher in the North American direct market, beating DC in unit share by 48% to 35%, and in dollar share by 49% to 33%. But then, FINAL CRISIS was on a skip month, so what do you expect?