Looking at the latest sales numbers in terms of issues sold, on the ICV2.com website it says no comic sold over 100,000 copies.
My main guesses as to why this is happening is because of the downturn in the economy, plus the raised cover price of many comics costing $3.99 an issue.
In today’s world, and tough economy many people are cutting back on needless expenses. I’ve seen many restaurants close nearby me for example.
I guess people are wondering why should they pay over $20.00 for a meal, when they can eat much cheaper. They can try fast food take out shops for example.
Some things in today’s world are expenses we must pay. Such as housing, the electric bill, insurance, etc.
Other things like eating out at a fancy restaurant are luxury items. And comic book collecting is a luxury item.
If you are making comic books for a living, then that is your job. Part of how you make your income.
But as a buyer of comic books, what you have in fact is a luxury item. It’s not really something that is Must Buy, such as the above mentioned paying for your housing costs.
And one must question honestly, is buying a twenty two page comic book, delivering the bang for your buck that it used to??
It’s the same page count as books made thirty or more years ago.
I remember the days when I’d buy over 15 comics in one shot. Back then it only cost a few dollars.
Now for 15 books I’d cost you on average $45.00. And I see people in the store charging their credit card for comic book purchases. Something I never used to see.
Also when costs go up, people get more picky and expect ideally better quality in terms of what they consider good art and writing. And as costs go up, it’s only natural for people to drop books from their buy list.
I wonder at what point will rising comic book costs further erode their buying public’s fan base? Or if it isn’t already happening?
For example 3 comics will cost about $8 or more.
Yet for $8 I can buy a comic book action figure. And get more value from that action figure then from 3 comics.
Their are more diverse things to spend money freely on nowadays, from DVD’s, CD’s, etc.
Guess that’s why I mostly wait and buy trade paperbacks and hardcovers and get them on discounts. Or go to conventions to look through the cheap bins. Such as finding $3 books out last year that only cost .50 cents now. 
But to be fair I see Many magazines close to the $9.00 range an issue for less then 100 pages. So their prices went up as well. Is it any wonder that magazine market sales are going downhill? But at least readers in the stores can look through and read the hole issue in the bookstore.