(BALTIMORE, MD) — (December 2, 2020) — Spider-Man faces the twin threats of the Sin-Eater and the Green Goblin in Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley’s Amazing Spider-Man #49, the 850th issue of Marvel Comics’ iconic series and the best-selling comic of October through Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics had eight titles in October’s top ten. Among the charting titles, Venom #29 ranked #2, Amazing Spider-Man #50 ranked #4, Thor #8 ranked #5, X-Men #13 ranked #6, Wolverine #6 ranked #7, Spider-Woman #5 ranked #8, and X of Swords: Statis #1 ranked #9.
Image Comics had two titles in the top ten. Todd McFarlane and Carlo Barberi’s Spawn #311, featuring a Chadwick Boseman tribute cover by McFarlane, ranked #3, while Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Dave McCaig’s The Walking Dead Deluxe #1, a remastered and newly colored edition of the long-running zombie series, ranked #10.
The best-selling comic titles from the other premier publishers in October were IDW Publishing’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #1 by Kevin Eastman at #18; Dynamite Entertainment’s DIE!namite #1 by Declan Shalvey, Fred Van Lente, Vincenzo Carratu, and Justin Mason at #23; BOOM! Studios’ Something is Killing the Children #11 by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera at #29; and Dark Horse Comics’ Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology #1 by P. Craig Russell, Mike Mignola, and Jerry Ordway at #56.
Dracula rises from the grave to terrorize 1970s Los Angeles in Alex De Campi and Erica Henderson’s Dracula Motherf—ker from Image Comics, the best-selling graphic novel of October. Marvel Comics had four titles in the top ten, led by Al Ewing, Dan Slott, and Pepe Larraz’s Empyre at #2, followed by Deadpool Classic Volume 1 at #3, Silver Surfer Black at #4, and The Incredible Hulk by Peter David Omnibus Volume 2 at #10. Dark Horse Comics’ Avatar: The Last Airbender: Katara and the Pirates of Silver ranked #5, AWA Studios’ The Resistance ranked #6, and BOOM! Studios’ Power Rangers: Sins of the Future original graphic novel ranked #9.
Mezco’s One:12 Collective: DC Comics: Harley Quinn “Playing for Keeps” Action Figure, a PREVIEWS Exclusive, was October’s best-selling toy product. Also in the top ten from Mezco, the PREVIEWS Exclusive One:12 Collective: Marvel Comics: Magneto (Marvel Now) Figure ranked #10. Diamond Select Toys had three products in the top ten; the Star Wars: The Mandalorian Mk. 3 1/6-Scale Mini-Bust, produced for San Diego Comic-Con 2020, was their top product at #2. Funimation’s POP! Dragonball Z: Kale & Kaulifla Vinyl Figure 2-Pack, a convention exclusive release, ranked #3. Also notable, Funko’s POP! Marvel: Infamous Iron Man Vinyl Figure, a PREVIEWS Exclusive release produced for Halloween Comic-Fest 2020, ranked #5 for October.
Paizo Publishing’s The Tome of Beasts, a repository of information on the creatures of the world of Pathfinder that can be used with other role-playing game systems, was October’s best-selling game product and one of the six Paizo products among the month’s top ten. NECA/WizKids’ Marvel HeroClix: Galactus Premium Scale Figure ranked #2 for the month, Wizard of the Coast’s Magic the Gathering: Zendikar Rising Booster Packs ranked #6, Hasbro’s Monopoly Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Child Edition ranked #7, and Green Ronin’s The Expanse RPG ranked #9.
“As we move into the fourth quarter, Diamond continues to be encouraged by the sales trends we’re seeing,” said Tim Lenaghan, Chief Purchasing officer of Geppi Family Enterprises, the parent company of Diamond Comic Distributors. “Over the course of the last three months we’ve seen a lot of stabilization in ordering patterns and, in many cases, these baseline numbers have exceeded our expectations. Additionally, there’s a tremendous amount of variety in the marketplace at the moment, and we continue to see this exhibited in our lists of Top Sellers each month.”
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #49 |
$9.99 |
JUL200608-M | MARVEL COMICS |
2 |
VENOM #29 |
$3.99 |
AUG200707-M | MARVEL COMICS |
3 |
SPAWN #311 [*] |
$2.99 |
AUG200368-M | IMAGE COMICS |
4 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 |
$5.99 |
AUG200636-M | MARVEL COMICS |
5 |
THOR #8 |
$3.99 |
AUG200710-M | MARVEL COMICS |
6 |
X-MEN #13 |
$3.99 |
AUG200626-M | MARVEL COMICS |
7 |
WOLVERINE #6 |
$3.99 |
AUG200605-M | MARVEL COMICS |
8 |
SPIDER-WOMAN #5 |
$4.99 |
AUG200650-M | MARVEL COMICS |
9 |
X OF SWORDS: STASIS #1 |
$4.99 |
AUG200630-M | MARVEL COMICS |
10 |
THE WALKING DEAD DELUXE #1 (MR) [*] |
$3.99 |
AUG200027-M | IMAGE COMICS |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #49 |
$9.99 |
JUL200608-M | MARVEL COMICS |
2 |
VENOM #29 |
$3.99 |
AUG200707-M | MARVEL COMICS |
3 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 |
$5.99 |
AUG200636-M | MARVEL COMICS |
4 |
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN #1 [*] |
$8.99 |
JUN200557-M | IDW PUBLISHING |
5 |
THOR #8 |
$3.99 |
AUG200710-M | MARVEL COMICS |
6 |
WOLVERINE #6 |
$3.99 |
AUG200605-M | MARVEL COMICS |
7 |
SPIDER-WOMAN #5 |
$4.99 |
AUG200650-M | MARVEL COMICS |
8 |
X OF SWORDS: STASIS #1 |
$4.99 |
AUG200630-M | MARVEL COMICS |
9 |
MARAUDERS #13 |
$4.99 |
AUG200611-M | MARVEL COMICS |
10 |
SPAWN #311 [*] |
$2.99 |
AUG200368-M | IMAGE COMICS |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
DRACULA, MOTHERF—KER HC |
$16.99 |
JUL200019 | IMAGE COMICS |
2 |
EMPYRE TP |
$39.99 |
AUG200742 | MARVEL COMICS |
3 |
DEADPOOL CLASSIC VOLUME 1 TP |
$29.99 |
FEB082311 | MARVEL COMICS |
4 |
SILVER SURFER BLACK TP |
$15.99 |
JUL200697 | MARVEL COMICS |
5 |
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER — KATARA AND THE PIRATE’S SILVER TP |
$12.99 |
JUN200324 | DARK HORSE COMICS |
6 |
THE RESISTANCE TP |
$9.99 |
AUG201209 | AWA STUDIOS |
7 |
THE BOYS OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$29.99 |
DEC181256-M | DYNAMITE |
8 |
YEAR ZERO VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
AUG201210 | AWA STUDIOS |
9 |
POWER RANGERS: SINS OF FUTURE GN |
$19.99 |
JUN200773 | BOOM! STUDIOS |
10 |
THE INCREDIBLE HULK BY PETER DAVID OMNIBUS VOLUME 2 HC |
$125.00 |
APR201078-M | MARVEL COMICS |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
THE INCREDIBLE HULK BY PETER DAVID OMNIBUS VOLUME 2 HC |
$125.00 |
APR201078-M | MARVEL COMICS |
2 |
WAR OF REALMS OMNIBUS HC |
$125.00 |
MAR201086-M | MARVEL COMICS |
3 |
INFINITY GAUNTLET OMNIBUS HC |
$125.00 |
MAR201082-M | MARVEL COMICS |
4 |
MARVEL HORROR LIVES AGAIN OMNIBUS HC |
$125.00 |
APR201065-M | MARVEL COMICS |
5 |
EMPYRE TP |
$39.99 |
AUG200742 | MARVEL COMICS |
6 |
SHE-HULK BY DAN SLOTT OMNIBUS HC |
$100.00 |
FEB201044 | MARVEL COMICS |
7 |
THE BOYS OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$29.99 |
DEC181256-M | DYNAMITE |
8 |
ABSOLUTE SWAMP THING BY ALAN MOORE VOLUME 2 HC |
$99.99 |
MAR200608 | DC COMICS |
9 |
MARVEL MASTERWORKS DEFENDERS VOL. 7 HC |
$75.00 |
MAR201078-M | MARVEL COMICS |
10 |
DRACULA, MOTHERF—KER HC |
$16.99 |
JUL200019 | IMAGE COMICS |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC COMICS: HARLEY QUINN “PLAYING FOR KEEPS” FIGURE | SEP198653 | MEZCO TOYS |
2 |
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN MK. 3 SDCC 2020 1/6-SCALE BUST |
DEC198807 | DIAMOND SELECT TOYS |
3 |
POP! DRAGONBALL Z: KALE & KAULIFLA FUNIMATION EXCLUSIVE VINYL FIGURE 2-PACK | JUN208959 | FUNIMATION PRODUCTIONS |
4 |
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN—THE CHILD ANIMATRONIC FIGURE | JAN208735 | HASBRO TOY GROUP |
5 |
POP! MARVEL: INFAMOUS IRON MAN HALLOWEEN COMICFEST 2020 VINYL FIGURE | JAN208954 | FUNKO |
6 |
MARVEL SELECT: THE THING FIGURE | AUG202102 | DIAMOND SELECT TOYS |
7 |
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN MK. 1 1/6-SCALE BUST | FEB202399 | DIAMOND SELECT TOYS |
8 |
DC COMICS: BATMAN (HUSH) MAFEX FIGURE | MAY198707 | MEDICOM TOY |
9 |
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN: THE CHILD TALKING PLUSH | OCT199143 | HASBRO TOY GROUP |
10 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL: MAGNETO (MARVEL NOW) EDITION FIGURE | AUG198176 | MEZCO TOYS |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
TOME OF BEASTS HC | JUN168476 | PAIZO PUBLISHING |
2 |
MARVEL HEROCLIX: GALACTUS PREMIUM COLOSSAL FIGURE | APR208578 | NECA |
3 |
PATHFINDER 2ND EDITION: THE LOST OMENS PATHFINDER SOCIETY GUIDE HC | AUG202514 | PAIZO PUBLISHING |
4 |
STARFINDER RPG CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAIZO PUBLISHING |
5 |
PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT: BIGGER BASIC | APR158212 | PAIZO PUBLISHING |
6 |
MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: ZENDIKAR RISING COLLECTION BOOSTERS | JUL208186 | WIZARDS OF THE COAST |
7 |
MONOPOLY: STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN: THE CHILD EDITION BOARD GAME | FEB209140 | HASBRO TOY GROUP |
8 |
PATHFINDER 2ND EDITION BESTIARY 2 | FEB202896 | PAIZO PUBLISHING |
9 |
THE EXPANSE RPG HC | NOV182869 | GREEN RONIN PUBLISHING |
10 |
CREATURE CODEX POCKET EDITION | FEB208361 | PAIZO PUBLISHING |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
MARVEL COMICS |
77 |
32 |
0 |
109 |
IMAGE COMICS |
40 |
13 |
0 |
53 |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
24 |
10 |
0 |
34 |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
18 |
12 |
0 |
30 |
KODANSHA COMICS |
0 |
28 |
0 |
28 |
IDW PUBLISHING |
17 |
8 |
0 |
25 |
VIZ MEDIA LLC |
0 |
25 |
0 |
25 |
DYNAMITE |
15 |
4 |
0 |
19 |
VAULT COMICS |
16 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
TITAN COMICS |
6 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
111 |
212 |
28 |
351 |
TOTAL |
324 |
348 |
28 |
700 |
MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR MARKET SHARE |
UNIT MARKET SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS |
54.14% |
61.98% |
IMAGE COMICS |
10.73% |
11.94% |
IDW PUBLISHING |
6.39% |
5.57% |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
5.19% |
5.06% |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
4.01% |
3.71% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
3.22% |
2.96% |
VIZ MEDIA |
2.38% |
1.02% |
DC COMICS |
1.46% |
-1.19% |
VAULT COMICS |
1.23% |
1.44% |
RANDOM HOUSE |
0.92% |
0.28% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
10.31% |
7.22% |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales 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.
Diamond’s market share numbers are pulled from overall Diamond orders of over 2,500 retail accounts from all publishers’ titles. Diamond’s market share data reflects orders from its current publishing partners.
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.
Some accounts may use a variety of Point-Of-Sale (POS) tools and other sales systems, while others do not. Sales data from other sources based on a varied set of POS users are limited to specific store performance and may not include data from other industry accounts. POS data are limited to each individual POS system’s user base and do not accurately present a holistic view of the industry.
Premier Publishers are defined by Diamond as Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Dynamite Entertainment, and BOOM! Studios.
Please note that reported quantities on comics marked with an asterisk (*) have been reduced based on an estimate of retailer expected returns that may or may not occur and thus, the title 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.