Superman Unchained #2Media Release -- Superman called upon Batman's assistance when the terrorist organization Ascension struck in Scott Snyder and Jim Lee's Superman Unchained #2 from DC Comics, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in July 2013, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.

DC Entertainment was July's top publisher in dollar share, edging Marvel Comics 32.50% to 32.34%. Marvel Comics was the month's top publisher in units sold with 36.47% of the market, compared to DC Entertainment's 34.07%. Comics sales increased over June's by 7.65%, and graphic novel sales increased over the previous month by 24.80%.

Clint Barton and Kate Bishop dealt with the fallout of Hurricane Sandy in Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye Volume 2: Little Hits Now from Marvel Comics, the best-selling graphic novel in July.

DC Collectibles recreated the power source of the Green Lantern Corps with the Green Lantern 1:1-Scale Power Battery Prop With Ring, July’s best-selling toy product to comic book specialty retailers.

WizKids introduced the newest expansion for their popular card game with the Magic the Gathering TCG: 2014 Core Set, the best-selling games product to comic book specialty retailers in July.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER DOLLAR SHARE UNIT SHARE
DC COMICS 32.50% 34.07%
MARVEL COMICS 32.34% 36.47%
IMAGE COMICS 6.56% 6.79%
IDW PUBLISHING 6.09% 4.53%
DARK HORSE COMICS 5.43% 4.61%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.54% 2.76%
BOOM! STUDIOS 2.20% 2.25%
AVATAR PRESS 1.09% 0.99%
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT 0.97% 0.96%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT 0.93% 1.05%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 9.35% 5.52%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER COMICS SHIPPED GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED MAGAZINES SHIPPED TOTAL SHIPPED
DC COMICS 91 29 1 121
MARVEL COMICS 81 37 0 118
IMAGE COMICS 42 14 0 56
IDW PUBLISHING 38 22 0 60
DARK HORSE COMICS 35 20 0 55
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 37 1 0 38
BOOM! STUDIOS 24 2 0 26
AVATAR PRESS 18 1 1 20
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT 15 1 0 16
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT 7 1 0 8
OTHER NON-TOP 10 77 167 42 286

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

DOLLARS UNITS
JULY 2013 VS. JUNE 2013
COMICS 7.65% 7.59%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 24.80% 31.39%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 12.72% 9.26%
JULY 2013 VS. JULY 2012
COMICS 12.65% 11.02%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 26.11% 18.11%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 16.73% 11.59%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2013 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2012
COMICS 13.16% 10.36%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 11.72% 10.18%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 12.71% 10.35%

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #2 $3.99 MAY130128 DC
2 BATMAN #22 $3.99 MAY130151 DC
3 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5 $3.99 MAY130589 MAR
4 JUSTICE LEAGUE #22 $3.99 MAY130099 DC
5 BATMAN ANNUAL #2 $4.99 MAY130155 DC
6 BATMAN SUPERMAN #2 $3.99 MAY130147 DC
7 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 $3.99 MAY130103 DC
8 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #13 $3.99 MAY130627 MAR
9 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #14 $3.99 MAY130628 MAR
10 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #1 $3.99 MAY130638 MAR

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 HAWKEYE VOL. 2: LITTLE HITS TP $16.99 MAR130726 MAR
2 AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER VOL. 5: THE SEARCH PART 2 TP $10.99 MAR130020 DAR
3 SAGA VOLUME 2 TP (MR) $14.99 APR130443 IMA
4 SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) $9.99 AUG120491 IMA
5 BLACK BOLT: SOMETHING INHUMAN THIS WAY COMES $7.99 MAY130610 MAR
6 KICK-ASS 2 PRELUDE: HIT-GIRL TP (MR) $19.99 MAY130706 MAR
7 FAIREST VOLUME 2: HIDDEN KINGDOM TP (MR) $14.99 APR130255 DC
8 BEFORE WATCHMEN: COMEDIAN/RORSCHACH DELUXE HC (MR) $29.99 MAR130265 DC
9 INVINCIBLE VOL. 18: THE DEATH OF EVERYONE TP $16.99 MAY130459 IMA
10 BEFORE WATCHMEN: NITE OWL/DR. MANHATTAN DELUXE HC (MR) $29.99 MAR130266 DC

TOP 10 TOYS

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 GREEN LANTERN 1:1-SCALE POWER BATTERY PROP WITH RING FEB130261 DC
2 THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY PLAY ARTS ~KAI~: THE JOKER ACTION FIGURE JAN131785 SQU
3 MARVEL SELECT IRON MAN 3: WAR MACHINE FIGURE DEC121591 DST
4 BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY PLAY ARTS ~KAI~: HARLEY QUINN ACTION FIGURE FEB131687 SQU
5 THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY PLAY ARTS ~KAI~: CATWOMAN ACTION FIGURE JAN131784 SQU
6 THE WALKING DEAD SERIES 2: THE GOVERNOR/PENNY ACTION FIGURE 2-PACK JAN138175 TMP
7 BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY PLAY ARTS ~KAI~: POISON IVY ACTION FIGURE FEB131688 SQU
8 THE DARK KNIGHT RISES: BATMAN MAF EX SEP128116 MED
9 MARVEL: KITTY PRYDE BISHOUJO STATUE JAN131764 KOT
10 DC: THE NEW 52 -- MARTIAN MANHUNTER ACTION FIGURE APR130278 DC

TOP 10 GAMES

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2014 CORE SET BOOSTERS MAY132333 WIZ
2 MARVEL HEROCLIX: WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN JUN132402 NEC
3 MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2014 CORE SET FAT PACK MAY132335 WIZ
4 MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: MODERN MASTERS BOOSTERS APR132231 WIZ
5 YU-GI-OH! TCG: NUMBER HUNTERS BOOSTERS MAR138416 KON
6 CLUE: THE BIG BANG THEORY EDITION MAR132256 USA
7 PACIFIC RIM HEROCLIX MAR138261 NEC
8 MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2014 CORE SET INTRO DECKS MAY132336 WIZ
9 STAR WARS RPG: EDGE OF THE EMPIRE CORE RULEBOOK MAR132242 FAN
10 YU-GI-OH! TCG: EPIC DAWN 2 WAR OF THE GIANTS BOOSTERS FEB138643 KON

How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.

Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 3,500 comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, and other specialty stores.

Unit and dollar market shares are calculated based upon orders for comic books, graphic novels, and magazines invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.

The count of new titles shipped 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 and graphic novels at different price points count as separate SKUs for each edition.

ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS (DCD)—Diamond is at the nexus of comics and pop culture merchandise. Based in Baltimore, MD, DCD is the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise, servicing more than 4,000 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.