(BALTIMORE, MD) — (December 7, 2018) — One of the most storied titles in comic book history returned in November as Marvel Comics relaunched Uncanny X-Men #1 in an oversized issue from an all-star roster of writers and artists, giving Marvel Comics the best-selling comic book of November 2018 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics was November’s top publisher with a 40.80% dollar share and a 43.75% unit share. DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 26.74% dollar share and a 29.51% unit share. Image Comics was third with a 8.57% dollar share and a 8.50% unit share. In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 3.62% dollar share and a 3.39% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 3.37% dollar share and a 2.58% unit share, BOOM! Studios with a 2.95% dollar share and a 2.49% unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 2.24% dollar share and a 2.11% unit share.
In total, Marvel Comics had six titles in the top ten including Web of Venom: Carnage Born #1 at #3, Amazing Spider-Man #10 at #4, Amazing Spider-Man #9 at #7, Avengers #10 at #9, and Venom #8 at #10. DC Entertainment had four titles, led by Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp’s The Green Lantern #1 at #2, followed by Batman #58 at #5, Batman #59 at #6, and Heroes in Crisis #3 at #8. Among the premier publishers, Image Comics’ top book, The Walking Dead #185, ranked #18; BOOM! Studios’ Firefly #1, based on Joss Whedon’s space opera, ranked #22; IDW Publishing’s Marvel Action: Spider-Man #1 ranked #48; Dark Horse Comics’ Stranger Things #3, based on the hit Netflix series, ranked #67; and Dynamite Entertainment’s best-selling book, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark #3 ranked #156.
Venom faced the most powerful adversary he had ever faced in Marvel Comics’ Venom Volume 1: Rex by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, the best-selling graphic novel of November. In total, Marvel had seven titles in the top ten, including Thanos: The Infinity Conflict at #2, Will.I.Am and Damion Scott’s Black Eyed Peas Presents: Masters of the Sun: The Zombie Chronicles at #4, and Amazing Spider-Man Volume 1: Back to Basics, the first volume of Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley’s run on the title, at #5. DC Entertainment had two titles in the top ten, led by Justice League Volume 1: The Totality by Scott Snyder, Jim Cheung, and Jorge Jimenez at #3, followed by Sean Murphy’s Batman: White Knight, October’s best-selling graphic novel, at #7. Image Comics also had a title in the top ten; Mirka Andolfo’s Unnatural Volume 1: Awakening ranked #8.
Dark Horse Comics’ The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Creating a Champion, an art book that delves into the creation of the latest game in the fan-favorite Nintendo franchise, was the best-selling book of November.
DC Collectibles’ DC Comics Bombshells: Batman & Catwoman Statue, based on Ant Lucia’s pin-up styled artwork and sculpted by Jack Mathews, was November’s best-selling toy product. In total, DC Collectibles had three products in the top ten including the Batman Black & White: The Batman Who Laughs Statue at #2 and the DC Cover Girls: Catwoman by Joëlle Jones Statue at #10. Diamond Select Toys had four products in the top ten, led by the Marvel Gallery: Venom (Comic Version) PVC Figure at #2.
Shinobi 7’s My Hero Academia Card Game, based on the popular manga and anime, was November’s best-selling game. IDW Publishing had two games in the top ten: the Batman: The Animated Series: Gotham Under Siege Game ranked #4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Munchkin, a special edition of the popular Munchkin board game, ranked #6.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
|
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS |
40.80% |
43.75% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT |
26.74% |
29.51% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
8.57% |
8.50% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
3.62% |
3.39% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
3.37% |
2.58% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.95% |
2.49% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
2.24% |
2.11% |
| VIZ MEDIA |
1.26% |
0.48% |
| TITAN COMICS |
1.20% |
0.80% |
| ONI PRESS INC. |
0.97% |
0.80% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
8.28% |
5.58% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
NOVEMBER 2018 VS. OCTOBER 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
-16.49% |
-19.71% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-21.10% |
-23.49% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-17.81% |
-19.99% |
| TOYS |
6.76% |
-23.81% |
|
NOVEMBER 2018 VS. NOVEMBER 2017 |
||
| COMICS |
-4.98% |
-11.24% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-30.36% |
-31.11% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-13.61% |
-13.02% |
| TOYS |
-10.88% |
-19.52% |
|
YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017 |
||
| COMICS |
1.48% |
-6.06% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-6.67% |
-7.25% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-0.98% |
-6.15% |
| TOYS |
-3.25% |
-3.25% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
|
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS |
79 |
39 |
0 |
118 |
| DC COMICS |
67 |
40 |
0 |
107 |
| IMAGE COMICS |
57 |
18 |
0 |
75 |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
33 |
14 |
0 |
47 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
23 |
16 |
0 |
39 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
16 |
19 |
0 |
35 |
| TITAN COMICS |
10 |
13 |
5 |
28 |
| VIZ MEDIA LLC |
0 |
26 |
0 |
26 |
| DYNAMITE |
17 |
4 |
0 |
21 |
| ONI PRESS INC. |
8 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
113 |
206 |
17 |
336 |
| TOTAL |
423 |
399 |
22 |
844 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
UNCANNY X-MEN #1 |
$7.99 |
SEP180791-M | MAR |
|
2 |
THE GREEN LANTERN #1 |
$4.99 |
SEP180430-M | DC |
|
3 |
WEB OF VENOM: CARNAGE BORN #1 |
$4.99 |
SEP180855-M | MAR |
|
4 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #10 |
$3.99 |
SEP180916-M | MAR |
|
5 |
BATMAN #58 |
$3.99 |
SEP180450-M | DC |
|
6 |
BATMAN #59 |
$3.99 |
SEP180452-M | DC |
|
7 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9 |
$3.99 |
SEP180914-M | MAR |
|
8 |
HEROES IN CRISIS #3 |
$3.99 |
SEP180434-M | DC |
|
9 |
AVENGERS #10 |
$5.99 |
SEP180829-M | MAR |
|
10 |
VENOM #8 |
$3.99 |
SEP180918-M | MAR |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
UNCANNY X-MEN #1 |
$7.99 |
SEP180791-M | MAR |
|
2 |
WEB OF VENOM: CARNAGE BORN #1 |
$4.99 |
SEP180855-M | MAR |
|
3 |
THE GREEN LANTERN #1 |
$4.99 |
SEP180430-M | DC |
|
4 |
AVENGERS #10 |
$5.99 |
SEP180829-M | MAR |
|
5 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #10 |
$3.99 |
SEP180916-M | MAR |
|
6 |
BATMAN #58 |
$3.99 |
SEP180450-M | DC |
|
7 |
BATMAN #59 |
$3.99 |
SEP180452-M | DC |
|
8 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9 |
$3.99 |
SEP180914-M | MAR |
|
9 |
HEROES IN CRISIS #3 |
$3.99 |
SEP180434-M | DC |
|
10 |
VENOM #8 |
$3.99 |
SEP180918-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOLUME 1: REX TP |
$17.99 |
AUG181081 | MAR |
|
2 |
THANOS: THE INFINITY CONFLICT HC |
$24.99 |
AUG181076 | MAR |
|
3 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: THE TOTALITY TP |
$17.99 |
AUG180630 | DC |
|
4 |
BLACK EYED PEAS PRESENTS: MASTERS OF THE SUN: THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES TP |
$24.99 |
APR171143 | MAR |
|
5 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY NICK SPENCER VOLUME 1: BACK TO BASICS TP |
$15.99 |
SEP181008 | MAR |
|
6 |
THE IMMORTAL HULK VOLUME 1: OR IS HE BOTH? TP |
$15.99 |
AUG181082 | MAR |
|
7 |
BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT TP |
$19.99 |
JUL180733 | DC |
|
8 |
UNNATURAL VOLUME 1: AWAKENING TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
SEP180132 | IMA |
|
9 |
STAR WARS: LANDO: DOUBLE OR NOTHING TP |
$15.99 |
JUL181171 | MAR |
|
10 |
DOMINO VOLUME 1: KILLER INSTINCT TP |
$17.99 |
AUG181085 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
X-MEN MUTANT: MASSACRE OMNIBUS HC |
$100.00 |
MAY180951 | MAR |
|
2 |
THANOS: THE INFINITY CONFLICT HC |
$24.99 |
AUG181076 | MAR |
|
3 |
ABSOLUTE TRANSMETROPOLITAN VOLUME 3 HC (MR) |
$125.00 |
MAR180362 | DC |
|
4 |
SILVER SURFER BY SLOTT AND ALLRED OMNIBUS HC |
$75.00 |
MAY180954 | MAR |
|
5 |
BLACK EYED PEAS PRESENTS: MASTERS OF THE SUN: THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES TP |
$24.99 |
APR171143 | MAR |
|
6 |
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOLUME 1: REX TP |
$17.99 |
AUG181081 | MAR |
|
7 |
FIREFLY: BIG DAMN HEROES BOX SET |
$150.00 |
SEP181294 | BOO |
|
8 |
WONDER WOMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 3 HC |
$125.00 |
APR180285 | DC |
|
9 |
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE MIGHTY THOR VOLUME 17 HC |
$75.00 |
MAY180957-M | MAR |
|
10 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: THE TOTALITY TP |
$17.99 |
AUG180630 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD: CREATING A CHAMPION HC |
$39.99 |
JUL180425 | DAR |
|
2 |
BLACK PANTHER LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK |
$4.99 |
NOV172179 | GOL |
|
3 |
GIGER HC |
$15.00 |
SEP181990 | TAS |
|
4 |
ART MATTERS: BECAUSE YOUR IMAGINATION CAN CHANGE WORLD |
$19.99 |
OCT182016 | WIL |
|
5 |
DARK SOULS III DESIGN WORKS HC |
$49.99 |
JUN182173 | UDO |
|
6 |
SPECTRUM ART BOOK 25 SC |
$35.00 |
SEP181796 | FLE |
|
7 |
FIREFLY: BIG DAMN HERO HC |
$22.95 |
AUG182286 | TTN |
|
8 |
GHOSTBUSTERS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK |
$4.99 |
JUL162266 | GOL |
|
9 |
FINAL FANTASY VII: ON THE WAY TO A SMILE SC |
$14.00 |
AUG182452 | YEN |
|
10 |
MARVEL STUDIOS: THE FIRST 10 YEARS HC |
$24.99 |
SEP182051 | TTN |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: BATMAN & CATWOMAN STATUE | MAY180613 | DC |
|
2 |
BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS STATUE | MAY180609 | DC |
|
3 |
MARVEL GALLERY: VENOM COMIC PVC FIGURE | MAY182304 | DST |
|
4 |
MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: DR. STRANGE PVC FIGURE | AUG178008 | DST |
|
5 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD: GUARDIAN NENDOROID | JAN188701 | GOO |
|
6 |
EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN: ASH WILLIAMS BISHOUJO STATUE | MAY182647 | KOT |
|
7 |
MARVEL UNIVERSE: BLACK PANTHER ARTFX+ STATUE | MAY182646 | KOT |
|
8 |
MARVEL GALLERY: BLACK PANTHER MOVIE (VER. 2) PVC FIGURE | MAY182305 | DST |
|
9 |
MARVEL SELECT: JUGGERNAUT FIGURE | JUN101512 | DST |
|
10 |
DC COVER GIRLS: CATWOMAN BY JOELLE JONES STATUE | MAY180610 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
MY HERO ACADEMIA CARD GAME | JUL183082 | SHI |
|
2 |
MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: GUILDS OF RAVNICA BOOSTERS | AUG183192 | WIZ |
|
3 |
D&D ICONS OF THE REALM SET 10 | AUG183199 | NEC |
|
4 |
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES: GOTHAM UNDER SIEGE GAME | JUN180756 | IDW |
|
5 |
RISK RICK & MORTY BOARD GAME | OCT182927 | USA |
|
6 |
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MUNCHKIN | MAY180770 | IDW |
|
7 |
PATHFINDER BATTLES: KINGMAKER BOOSTER BRICK | AUG183201 | NEC |
|
8 |
RICK AND MORTY DBG: THE RICKSHANK RICKDEMPTION | MAY188741 | PSI |
|
9 |
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDYS MONOPOLY BOARD GAME | SEP182828 | USA |
|
10 |
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS RPG: WATERDEEP DRAGON HEIST HC | AUG183190 | WIZ |
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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