(BALTIMORE, MD) — (September 13, 2019) — Carnage’s hunt for Venom — and all those who have carried a symbiote — threatens chaos in New York City in Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman’s Absolute Carnage #1 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book of August 2019 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics was August’s top publisher, taking 46.15% of dollars and 49.96% of units shipped. In second place, DC’s market share was 24.86% and 25.96% respectively. Image Comics ranked third, with a 6.32% dollar share and a 6.26% unit share, followed by IDW Publishing, Dark Horse Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, and BOOM! Studios.
Marvel Comics had seven of the month’s top ten best-selling comic books. In addition to Absolute Carnage #1, the 80th-anniversary celebration Marvel Comics #1000 ranked #2, Jonathan Hickman and Pepe Larraz’s House of X #3 ranked #4, Hickman and R.B. Silva’s Powers of X #2 ranked #5, Hickman and Larraz’s House of X #2 ranked #6, Hickman and Silva’s Powers of X #3 ranked #7, and Cates and Stegman’s Absolute Carnage #2 ranked #8. DC had three titles in the top ten: Joshua Williamson and David Marquez’s Batman/Superman #1, spinning out of the events of The Batman Who Laughs, ranked #3, Tom King and Tony S. Daniel’s Batman #77 ranked #9, and Sean Murphy’s Black Label book, Batman: Curse of the White Knight #2, ranked #10. Among the premier publishers, IDW Publishing’s top book for August was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #97 at #44; Dynamite Entertainment’s Vampirella #2 ranked #51; BOOM! Studios’ Once and Future #1, the new series from Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora, ranked #64; Dark Horse Comics’ Black Hammer/Justice League #2 ranked #88; and Image Comics’ Die #6 ranked #95.
Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead Volume 32, the final volume of Image Comics’ best-selling series, was August’s best-selling graphic novel. DC Comics had three titles in the top ten: Scott Snyder and Jock’s The Batman Who Laughs ranked #2, Mariko Tamaki and Steve Pugh’s Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass ranked #3, and Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen, reprinted to coincide with the HBO series, ranked #4. Marvel Comics had four titles in the top ten: Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman’s War of the Realms ranked #5, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season One Declassified ranked #6, Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum and Paolo Villanelli’s Star War: Vader: Dark Visions ranked #7, and Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw’s Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 1: Final Gauntlet ranked #10.
UDON Entertainment’s Neon Genesis Evangelion: TV Animation Production Art Collection, a hardcover collection of concept and production art for the acclaimed anime, was August’s best-selling book, and one of UDON’s three books in the top ten. The softcover edition of Gemstone Publishing’s Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 49 ranked #3. Also in the top ten, Dynamite Entertainment’s The Art of Dejah Thoris and the Worlds of Mars Volume 2, a collection of covers and pin-ups, ranked #9.
Mezco’s One:12 Collective: DC Comics: Sovereign Knight Batman (Blue Costume) Action Figure, a PREVIEWS Exclusive version of the figure series that looks at Batman through the ages, was August’s best-selling figure. Funko had three products in the top ten, all of them PREVIEWS Exclusives: the POP! DC Heroes: Batman Damned Vinyl Figure ranked #2, the POP! DC Heroes: The Batman Who Laughs Vinyl Figure ranked #3, and the POP! Marvel: Nova Prime Vinyl Figure ranked #8. Diamond Select Toys’ Marvel Select: Psylocke Figure ranked #6. DC Collectibles had two products in the top ten: the Batman: The Animated Series: Batcycle & Figure Set ranked #7 and the DC Designer Series: Nightwing by Jim Lee Statue ranked #9.
Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder Core Rulebook (2nd Edition) was August’s best-selling game product and one of Paizo’s eight products among the top ten.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS |
46.15% |
49.96% |
DC |
24.86% |
25.96% |
IMAGE COMICS |
6.32% |
6.26% |
IDW PUBLISHING |
4.00% |
4.18% |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
3.27% |
2.65% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
2.51% |
2.13% |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.50% |
2.34% |
VIZ MEDIA |
1.33% |
0.53% |
TITAN COMICS |
0.72% |
0.64% |
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT |
0.53% |
0.56% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
7.81% |
4.79% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
AUGUST 2019 VS. JULY 2019 |
||
COMICS |
-6.01% |
-9.70% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-5.13% |
0.26% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-5.78% |
-9.06% |
TOYS |
-21.40% |
-20.06% |
AUGUST 2019 VS. AUGUST 2018 |
||
COMICS |
0.64% |
-4.44% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-20.11% |
-21.96% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-5.76% |
-5.94% |
TOYS |
-9.65% |
11.91% |
YEAR TO DATE 2019 VS. YEAR TO DATE 2018 |
||
COMICS |
0.92% |
-4.37% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-3.24% |
-8.55% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-0.26% |
-4.68% |
TOYS |
24.37% |
31.96% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
MARVEL COMICS |
88 |
42 |
0 |
130 |
DC |
64 |
27 |
1 |
92 |
IMAGE COMICS |
47 |
9 |
0 |
56 |
IDW PUBLISHING |
32 |
12 |
0 |
44 |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
21 |
18 |
0 |
39 |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
19 |
15 |
0 |
34 |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
17 |
7 |
0 |
24 |
VIZ MEDIA |
0 |
21 |
0 |
21 |
TITAN COMICS |
8 |
6 |
1 |
15 |
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT |
7 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
128 |
169 |
22 |
319 |
TOTAL |
431 |
328 |
24 |
783 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #1 |
$7.99 |
JUN190761-M | MAR |
2 |
MARVEL COMICS #1000 |
$9.99 |
JUN190842-M | MAR |
3 |
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #1 [*] |
$3.99 |
JUN190450-M | DC |
4 |
HOUSE OF X #3 |
$4.99 |
JUN190821-M | MAR |
5 |
POWERS OF X #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190828-M | MAR |
6 |
HOUSE OF X #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190814-M | MAR |
7 |
POWERS OF X #3 |
$4.99 |
JUN190835-M | MAR |
8 |
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190775-M | MAR |
9 |
BATMAN #77 |
$3.99 |
JUN190479-M | DC |
10 |
BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190457-M | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
MARVEL COMICS #1000 |
$9.99 |
JUN190842-M | MAR |
2 |
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #1 |
$7.99 |
JUN190761-M | MAR |
3 |
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #1 [*] |
$3.99 |
JUN190450-M | DC |
4 |
SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE #2 (MR) [*] |
$7.99 |
JUN190465-M | DC |
5 |
POWERS OF X #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190828-M | MAR |
6 |
HOUSE OF X #3 |
$4.99 |
JUN190821-M | MAR |
7 |
HOUSE OF X #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190814-M | MAR |
8 |
POWERS OF X #3 |
$4.99 |
JUN190835-M | MAR |
9 |
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190775-M | MAR |
10 |
BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190457-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 32 TP |
$16.99 |
JUN190045 | IMA |
2 |
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS HC |
$29.99 |
JUN190568 | DC |
3 |
HARLEY QUINN: BREAKING GLASS TP |
$16.99 |
APR190434 | DC |
4 |
WATCHMEN TP |
$24.99 |
JUN190614-M | DC |
5 |
WAR OF THE REALMS TP |
$29.99 |
MAY190956 | MAR |
6 |
MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. DECLASSIFIED SLIPCASE HC |
$49.99 |
APR140762 | MAR |
7 |
STAR WARS: VADER: DARK VISIONS TP |
$15.99 |
MAY190975 | MAR |
8 |
MIRACULOUS: TALES OF LADYBUG AND CAT NOIR SEASON 2 VOL. 4: NO EVIL DOING TP |
$8.99 |
SEP181357 | ACT |
9 |
DISNEY DESCENDANTS: EVIE’S WICKED RUNWAY VOL. 2 TP |
$15.99 |
FEB192149 | TOK |
10 |
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 1: FINAL GAUNTLET TP |
$17.99 |
MAY190960 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 32 TP |
$16.99 |
JUN190045 | IMA |
2 |
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS HC |
$29.99 |
JUN190568 | DC |
3 |
SAGA COMPENDIUM VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$59.99 |
MAY190044 | IMA |
4 |
WAR OF THE REALMS TP |
$29.99 |
MAY190956 | MAR |
5 |
THE JOKER: THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS HC |
$99.99 |
DEC180652 | DC |
6 |
WATCHMEN TP |
$24.99 |
JUN190614-M | DC |
7 |
MARVEL MASTERS OF SUSPENSE: LEE & DITKO OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 HC |
$100.00 |
FEB190976 | MAR |
8 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: HUNTED TP |
$39.99 |
MAY190964 | MAR |
9 |
THE BOYS OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$29.99 |
DEC181256-M | DYN |
10 |
MISTER MIRACLE HC (MR) |
$34.99 |
JAN198940 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION ART COLLECTION HC |
$39.99 |
JUN192115 | UDO |
2 |
MEGA MAN BATTLE NETWORK OFFICIAL COMPLETE WORKS |
$44.99 |
JUN192114 | UDO |
3 |
OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOL. 49 SC |
$29.95 |
APR191757-M | GEM |
4 |
THE SAGA OF TANYA THE EVIL VOL. 6 SC |
$14.00 |
MAY192174 | YEN |
5 |
STAR WARS: REY AND PALS HC |
$14.95 |
JUN191651 | CHR |
6 |
CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF ILLUSTRATED NOVEL SC |
$18.00 |
JUN191761 | POC |
7 |
SO I’M A SPIDER, SO WHAT? VOL. 6 SC |
$14.00 |
MAY192175 | YEN |
8 |
DARK SOULS DESIGN WORKS VOLUME 1 HC |
$39.99 |
AUG131470 | UDO |
9 |
THE ART OF DEJAH THORIS & THE WORLDS OF MARS VOL. 2 HC (MR) |
$39.99 |
JAN191259 | DE |
10 |
THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL. 143 SC |
$14.95 |
APR191921 | SAN |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC COMICS: SOVEREIGN KNIGHT BATMAN BLUE FIGURE | JUN188303 | MEZ |
2 |
POP! DC HEROES: BATMAN DAMNED VINYL FIGURE | DEC188715 | FUN |
3 |
POP! DC HEROES: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS VINYL FIGURE | JUN188595 | FUN |
4 |
X-FORCE LEGENDS ACTION FIGURES | APR198748 | HAS |
5 |
MARVEL LEGENDS GEAR: AVENGERS ENDGAME: POWER GAUNTLET | JAN199285 | HAS |
6 |
MARVEL SELECT: PSYLOCKE FIGURE | FEB192448 | DST |
7 |
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES: BATCYCLE & FIGURE SET | JAN190709 | DC |
8 |
POP! MARVEL: NOVA PRIME VINYL FIGURE | OCT188711 | FUN |
9 |
DC DESIGNER SERIES: NIGHTWING BY JIM LEE STATUE | JAN190712 | DC |
10 |
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: SKELETOR 1/6-SCALE COLLECTIBLE FIGURE | SEP188638 | MON |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
PATHFINDER CORE RULEBOOK HC (P2) | MAY193227 | PAI |
2 |
PATHFINDER BESTIARY HC (P2) | MAY193229 | PAI |
3 |
PATHFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: AGE OF ASHES VOL. 1 (P2) | MAY193233 | PAI |
4 |
PATHFINDER ADVENTURE: FALL OF PLAGUESTONE (P2) | MAY193232 | PAI |
5 |
CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
6 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK POCKET EDITION | APR168770 | PAI |
7 |
D&D: BALDUR’S GATE: DECENT INTO AVERNUS MINIATURES BRICK | JAN198568 | NEC |
8 |
PATHFINDER BESTIARY SPECIAL EDITION HC (P2) | MAY193230 | PAI |
9 |
STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
10 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK | JUN091729 | PAI |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which includes the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from sales made to thousands of comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. Additional sales made to online merchants and other specialty retailers may be included as well.
Unit and dollar market shares are calculated based upon orders for comic books, graphic novels, and magazines invoiced and shipped to Diamond customers during any given month, which comprises pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable. Please note that comics marked with an asterisk (*) have had their reported quantities reduced due to retailer returnability, and thus may rank lower on the charts than their actual sales would reflect.
The New Titles Count Chart includes all titles that were invoiced by Diamond to retailers for the first time during the month and is not the official solicited title count for the month. Variant edition comic books and graphic novels at the same price point count as a single SKU. Variant edition comic books, lenticular covers, digital combo packs, and graphic novels at different price points count as separate SKUs for each edition.