(BALTIMORE, MD) — (April 26, 2019) — An all-star roster of writers and artists celebrate 80 years of Batman in DC Comics’ Detective Comics #1000, the best-selling comic book of March 2019 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
DC was March’s top publisher in dollars with a 36.20% market share and second in units with a 34.00% market share. Marvel Comics was the month’s top publisher in units with a 40.94% market share and second in dollars with a 34.46% market share. Image Comics was third in market share with a 9.63% dollar share and a 9.36% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 3.26% dollar share and a 2.45% unit share, IDW Publishing with a 3.19% market share in both dollars and units, BOOM! Studios with a 2.19% dollar share and a 2.13% unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.24% dollar share and a 1.08% unit share.
DC had seven titles in March’s top ten comics. In addition to Detective Comics #1000, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Eduardo Risso’s The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1 ranked #2; Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Doomsday Clock #9 ranked #3; Tom King, Lee Weeks, and Jorge Fornes’ Batman #67 ranked #4; King and Fornes’ Batman #66 ranked #5; King and Clay Mann’s Heroes in Crisis #7 ranked #6; and Snyder and Jorge Jimenez’s Justice League #20 ranked #10. Marvel Comics had three titles in the top ten: Nick Spencer, Humberto Ramos, and Victor Olazaba’s Amazing Spider-Man #17, the first chapter of the “Hunted” storyline featuring Kraven the Hunter, ranked #7; Spencer, Ramos, and Olazaba’s Amazing Spider-Man #18 ranked #8; and Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum and Michele Bandini’s Spider-Man: City at War #1, based on the best-selling Spider-Man game for the PlayStation 4, ranked #9. Among the premier publishers, their top books were Image Comics’ The Walking Dead #189 at #30, BOOM! Studios’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer #3 at #76, IDW Publishing’s Transformers #1 at #90, Dark Horse Comics’ The Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion #6 at #131, and Dynamite Entertainment’s Red Sonja #2 at #135.
Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn’s The Walking Dead Volume 31: The Rotten Core from Image Comics was the best-selling graphic novel of March. In total, Image Comics had six titles in the top ten. DC had four titles in the top ten, led by Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman, an anthology of stories from the past eight decades, at #2.
BBC Books’ Doctor Who: Thirteen Doctors 13 Stories, a young readers anthology of short stories featuring each of the Doctor’s incarnation, was the best-selling book of March. Gemstone Publishing’s Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 48 returned to the top ten at #5. Also in the top ten, Dark Horse Comics’ Middle-Earth: Journeys in Myth and Legend, an art book featuring Donato Giancola’s work based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, ranked #7 for the month.
Good Smile’s Overwatch: Reaper Figma, based on the best-selling video game from Blizzard Entertainment, was the best-selling toy product of March. Diamond Select Toys had three products in the month’s top ten, led by the Marvel Gallery: Avengers Infinity War: Iron Spider-Man PVC Statue at #2. DC Collectibles also had three products among the top ten, with the Batman Family: Batman Multi-Part Statue, the first piece in a new statue line, as their best-selling product at #6.
The Creature Codex, a sourcebook for Paizo’s Pathfinder role-playing game, was the best-selling game product of March and one of Paizo’s eight products among the month’s top ten.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
|
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
| DC |
36.20% |
34.00% |
| MARVEL COMICS |
34.46% |
40.94% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
9.63% |
9.36% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
3.26% |
2.45% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
3.19% |
3.19% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.19% |
2.13% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
1.24% |
1.08% |
| VIZ MEDIA |
1.23% |
0.50% |
| ARCHIE COMICS |
0.80% |
0.86% |
| ONI PRESS |
0.74% |
0.64% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
7.07% |
4.85% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
MARCH 2019 VS. FEBRUARY 2019 |
||
| COMICS |
26.89% |
9.90% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
21.20% |
33.41% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
25.30% |
11.52% |
| TOYS |
-8.40% |
-10.17% |
|
MARCH 2019 VS. MARCH 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
15.82% |
-3.32% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
6.35% |
17.77% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
13.10% |
-1.87% |
| TOYS |
4.67% |
8.49% |
|
YEAR TO DATE 2019 VS. YEAR TO DATE 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
8.51% |
-2.12% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
5.46% |
3.95% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
7.64% |
-1.68% |
| TOYS |
20.14% |
29.77% |
|
FIRST QUARTER 2019 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
-4.89% |
-7.30% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
0.40% |
2.03% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-3.46% |
-6.66% |
| TOYS |
14.61% |
23.82% |
|
FIRST QUARTER 2019 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
8.51% |
-2.12% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
5.46% |
3.95% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
7.64% |
-1.68% |
| TOYS |
20.14% |
29.77% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
|
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS |
99 |
44 |
0 |
143 |
| DC |
66 |
35 |
0 |
101 |
| IMAGE COMICS |
66 |
27 |
0 |
93 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
25 |
21 |
0 |
46 |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
29 |
10 |
0 |
39 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
25 |
10 |
0 |
35 |
| VIZ MEDIA |
0 |
21 |
0 |
21 |
| ONI PRESS |
9 |
7 |
0 |
16 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
12 |
3 |
0 |
15 |
| ARCHIE COMICS |
8 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
138 |
207 |
17 |
362 |
| TOTAL |
477 |
387 |
17 |
881 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DETECTIVE COMICS #1000 |
$9.99 |
JAN190542-M | DC |
|
2 |
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS: THE GRIM KNIGHT #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN190535-M | DC |
|
3 |
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #9 |
$4.99 |
NOV180434-M | DC |
|
4 |
BATMAN #67 |
$3.99 |
JAN190576-M | DC |
|
5 |
BATMAN #66 |
$3.99 |
JAN190574-M | DC |
|
6 |
HEROES IN CRISIS #7 |
$3.99 |
JAN190558-M | DC |
|
7 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #17 |
$4.99 |
JAN190896-M | MAR |
|
8 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #18 |
$3.99 |
JAN190901-M | MAR |
|
9 |
SPIDER-MAN: CITY AT WAR #1 |
$3.99 |
JAN190967-M | MAR |
|
10 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE #20 |
$3.99 |
JAN190609-M | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DETECTIVE COMICS #1000 |
$9.99 |
JAN190542-M | DC |
|
2 |
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS: THE GRIM KNIGHT #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN190535-M | DC |
|
3 |
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #9 |
$4.99 |
NOV180434-M | DC |
|
4 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #17 |
$4.99 |
JAN190896-M | MAR |
|
5 |
BATMAN #67 |
$3.99 |
JAN190576-M | DC |
|
6 |
SPIDER-MAN: CITY AT WAR #1 |
$3.99 |
JAN190967-M | MAR |
|
7 |
BATMAN #66 |
$3.99 |
JAN190574-M | DC |
|
8 |
HEROES IN CRISIS #7 |
$3.99 |
JAN190558-M | DC |
|
9 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #18 |
$3.99 |
JAN190901-M | MAR |
|
10 |
SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN190927-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 31 TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
JAN190186 | IMA |
|
2 |
DETECTIVE COMICS: 80 YEARS OF BATMAN HC |
$29.99 |
DEC180641 | DC |
|
3 |
SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
AUG120491 | IMA |
|
4 |
MONSTRESS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
APR160803 | IMA |
|
5 |
THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOL. 8: OLD IS THE NEW NEW TP |
$17.99 |
JAN190247 | IMA |
|
6 |
SEVEN TO ETERNITY VOLUME 3 TP |
$16.99 |
OCT180111 | IMA |
|
7 |
BATMAN VOLUME 9: THE TYRANT WING TP |
$16.99 |
DEC180627 | DC |
|
8 |
SUPER SONS: THE POLARSHIELD PROJECT TP |
$9.99 |
DEC180509 | DC |
|
9 |
SAGA VOLUME 9 TP (MR) |
$14.99 |
JUL180297 | IMA |
|
10 |
MERA: TIDEBREAKER TP |
$16.99 |
DEC180508 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DETECTIVE COMICS: 80 YEARS OF BATMAN HC |
$29.99 |
DEC180641 | DC |
|
2 |
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 HC |
$125.00 |
SEP181003-M | MAR |
|
3 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 31 TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
JAN190186 | IMA |
|
4 |
AVENGERS OMNIBUS VOLUME 4 HC |
$100.00 |
SEP180999-M | MAR |
|
5 |
THANOS WARS: THE INFINITY ORIGIN OMNIBUS HC |
$100.00 |
OCT181003-M | MAR |
|
6 |
UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 1: X-MEN DISASSEMBLED TP |
$39.99 |
DEC181034 | MAR |
|
7 |
DARK NIGHTS METAL: DARK KNIGHTS RISING TP |
$24.99 |
DEC180638 | DC |
|
8 |
THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOL. 8: OLD IS THE NEW NEW TP |
$17.99 |
JAN190247 | IMA |
|
9 |
EARTH X TRILOGY OMNIBUS OMEGA HC |
$100.00 |
SEP180998 | MAR |
|
10 |
SEVEN TO ETERNITY VOLUME 3 TP |
$16.99 |
OCT180111 | IMA |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DOCTOR WHO: THIRTEEN DOCTORS 13 STORIES SC |
$17.99 |
DEC181677 | BBC |
|
2 |
FLCL ARCHIVES TP |
$39.99 |
DEC182217 | UDO |
|
3 |
SAMURAI PIZZA CATS OFFICIAL FAN BOOK SC |
$39.99 |
NOV182128 | UDO |
|
4 |
FAMILY TRAITS HC |
$29.99 |
DEC182218 | UDO |
|
5 |
THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 48 SC |
$29.95 |
APR181580 | GEM |
|
6 |
THE SAGA OF TANYA THE EVIL VOLUME 5 SC |
$14.00 |
JAN192356 | YEN |
|
7 |
MIDDLE-EARTH: JOURNEYS IN MYTH AND LEGEND HC |
$39.99 |
SEP180284 | DAR |
|
8 |
THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 139 SC |
$14.95 |
DEC182026 | SAN |
|
9 |
BLOODBORNE OFFICIAL ARTWORKS SC |
$44.99 |
MAR172148 | UDO |
|
10 |
GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK VOLUME 1 SC |
$12.99 |
OCT151871 | ZEN |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
OVERWATCH: REAPER FIGMA | MAR188251 | GOO |
|
2 |
MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: IRON SPIDER-MAN PVC STATUE | JUN182325 | DST |
|
3 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC COMICS: DARKSEID FIGURE | MAR188264 | MEZ |
|
4 |
KINGDOM HEARTS: SORA NENDOROID | JUN188352 | GOO |
|
5 |
MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: THOR FIGURE | APR182167 | DST |
|
6 |
BATMAN FAMILY: BATMAN MULTI PART STATUE | AUG180672 | DC |
|
7 |
BLACK PANTHER LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES | JUL188376 | HAS |
|
8 |
MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: CAPTAIN AMERICA FIGURE | APR182168 | DST |
|
9 |
DC COVER GIRLS: MERA BY JOELLE JONES STATUE | AUG180678 | DC |
|
10 |
BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: STATUE BY KLAUS JANSON | AUG180679 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
CREATURE CODEX HC | JUL183073 | PAI |
|
2 |
STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
|
3 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK | JUN091729 | PAI |
|
4 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK POCKET EDITION | APR168770 | PAI |
|
5 |
TOME OF BEASTS HC | JUN168476 | PAI |
|
6 |
PATHFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: RISE OF THE RUNELORDS ANNIVERSARY EDITION | APR121968 | PAI |
|
7 |
STARFINDER RPG: ARMORY HC | MAY182931 | PAI |
|
8 |
PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT: BASIC (NEW EDITION) | MAR138328 | PAI |
|
9 |
D&D ICONS OF THE REALM WATERDEEP: MAD MAGE BOOSTER BRICK | NOV182893 | NEC |
|
10 |
DRAGON AGE RPG: FACES OF THEDAS SOURCEBOOK | JAN182843 | GRE |
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.
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