Media Release -- The Riddler plunges Gotham City into a blackout as Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's "Zero Year" continued in Batman #25 from DC Entertainment, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in November 2013, 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, edging DC Entertainment 29.97% to 29.24% in Dollar Share and 33.65% to 31.90% in Unit Share. Both publishers had major launches in November – Harley Quinn #0 for DC Entertainment, Amazing X-Men #1 for Marvel Comics – that landed in the month's top ten comics.
Comics sales in November, a four week month, declined by nearly 19% over October, a five week month. On the year, comics sales are up 11% over 2012 and graphic novels are up over 5% in the comic book specialty market.
The conflict between the survivors' groups grows as Rick, Ezekial, Gregory, and Negan prepare for war in Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's The Walking Dead Volume 19: March to War, the latest volume of the best-selling zombie series from Image Comics and November's best-selling graphic novel. Also notable in November were two original graphic novels -- DC Entertainment's original graphic novel, Fairest in All the Land ranked #3 and Dark Horse Comics' The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story at #37.
Penguin Books celebrated Doctor Who's golden anniversary with November's release of Doctor Who: The Essential Guide to 50 Years of Doctor Who, November's best-selling book in the comic book specialty market. Also in the top ten, continuing its year-long run, was Dark Horse Comics' Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, at #4.
Seven of comics' greatest heroes and villains, including Batman, The Flash, The Joker, and Black Manta, come together in the DC Comics: The New 52 Super-Heroes Vs. Super-Villains Action Figure Pack from DC Collectibles, the best-selling toy product to specialty market retailers in November.
The world of HeroClix gaming expanded in November with the Marvel HeroClix: The Invincible Iron Man Booster Brick from WizKids/NECA, the month's best-selling games product.
Among other major publishers, IDW Publishing's My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #13, based on the fan-favorite animated series, was the publisher's top comic book at #56.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 29.97% | 33.65% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 29.24% | 31.90% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 8.67% | 9.77% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 6.68% | 6.26% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 6.11% | 4.91% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 3.20% | 3.00% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.90% | 1.92% |
| EAGLEMOSS COLLECTIONS | 1.86% | 0.44% |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT | 1.58% | 1.74% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.19% | 0.42% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 9.59% | 5.99% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTAL SHIPPED |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 85 | 29 | 1 | 115 |
| MARVEL COMICS | 74 | 34 | 0 | 108 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 46 | 31 | 0 | 77 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 37 | 31 | 0 | 68 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 42 | 14 | 0 | 56 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 30 | 18 | 0 | 48 |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 20 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| EAGLEMOSS COLLECTIONS | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 64 | 116 | 16 | 196 |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| NOVEMBER 2013 VS. OCTOBER 2013 | ||
| COMICS | -18.80% | -18.95% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -9.72% | -14.98% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -16.07% | -18.65% |
| NOVEMBER 2013 VS. NOVEMBER 2012 | ||
| COMICS | -1.21% | -8.43% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 14.59% | 11.44% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 3.39% | -7.12% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2013 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 | ||
| COMICS | 11.09% | 7.69% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 5.55% | 3.92% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 9.33% | 7.39% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BATMAN #25 | $4.99 | SEP130143-M | DC |
| 2 | HARLEY QUINN #0 | $2.99 | SEP130227-M | DC |
| 3 | AMAZING X-MEN #1 | $3.99 | SEP130740-M | MAR |
| 4 | SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #4 | $3.99 | AUG130213-M | DC |
| 5 | FOREVER EVIL #3 | $3.99 | SEP130164-M | DC |
| 6 | INFINITY #6 | $5.99 | SEP130661-M | MAR |
| 7 | ALL-NEW X-MEN #18 | $3.99 | SEP130749-M | MAR |
| 8 | SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #22 | $3.99 | SEP130697-M | MAR |
| 9 | BATMAN/SUPERMAN #5 | $3.99 | SEP130223-M | DC |
| 10 | SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #21 | $3.99 | SEP130696 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 19: MARCH TO WAR TP | $14.99 | SEP130566 | IMA |
| 2 | YU-GI-OH! 5DS VOLUME 5 GN | $9.99 | SEP131376 | VIZ |
| 3 | FAIREST IN ALL THE LAND HC (MR) | $22.99 | JUL130257 | DC |
| 4 | BATMAN: NIGHT OF THE OWLS TP (N52) | $19.99 | AUG130291 | DC |
| 5 | THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS VOLUME 3 TP | $14.99 | MAY130427 | IMA |
| 6 | INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US VOLUME 1 HC | $19.99 | JUL130242 | DC |
| 7 | NOWHERE MEN VOLUME 1: FATES WORSE THAN DEATH TP | $9.99 | MAY130486 | IMA |
| 8 | BATMAN IN DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2: SCARE TACTICS (N52) | $16.99 | AUG130290 | DC |
| 9 | S.H.I.E.L.D. ORIGINS TP | $7.99 | SEP130732 | MAR |
| 10 | HAWKEYE VOLUME 1 HC | $34.99 | JUN130677 | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DOCTOR WHO: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO 50 YEARS OF DOCTOR WHO | $20.00 | JUL131467 | PEN |
| 2 | DC SUPER HEROES: BATMAN: HARLEY QUINN'S SHOCKING SURPRISE TP | $4.95 | AUG131589 | CAP |
| 3 | STAR TREK: LIGHT UP STARSHIP ENTERPRISE KIT | $12.95 | JUL131508 | RUN |
| 4 | LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC | $34.99 | SEP120055 | DAR |
| 5 | STAR WARS: DEATH STAR OWNERS TECHNICAL MANUAL | $30.00 | SEP131510 | RAN |
| 6 | SPECTRUM VOLUME 20 TP | $35.00 | AUG131579 | PUB |
| 7 | THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 78 | $14.95 | SEP131509 | SAN |
| 8 | DOCTOR WHO OFFICIAL ANNUAL 2014 | $12.99 | MAR131467 | PEN |
| 9 | THE ART OF SEAN PHILLIPS HC (MR) | $39.99 | JUL130989 | DE |
| 10 | DC SUPER HEROES: BATMAN: BAT MITE'S BIG BLUNDER TP | $4.95 | JUL131458 | CAP |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DC COMICS: THE NEW 52 SUPER HEROES VS. SUPER VILLAINS 7-PACK | JUN130321 | DC |
| 2 | MICHAEL JORDAN: REAL MASTERPIECE #23 "ROAD UNIFORM" FIGURE | MAR138258 | ENT |
| 3 | SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN: THE KISS STATUE | MAY130269 | DC |
| 4 | BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: THE JOKER STATUE BY GREG CAPULLO | MAY130280 | DC |
| 5 | MARVEL SELECT: CLASSIC THOR ACTION FIGURE | JUL138075 | DST |
| 6 | MARVEL SELECT: THOR: THE DARK WORLD: THOR ACTION FIGURE | MAY131784 | DST |
| 7 | BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: BATMAN STATUE BY GREG CAPULLO | MAY130281 | DC |
| 8 | BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS SERIES 1: THE JOKER ACTION FIGURE | JUL130282 | DC |
| 9 | JUSTICE LEAGUE: WE CAN BE HEROES 7-PACK BOX SET | AUG120308 | DC |
| 10 | BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS SERIES 1: BATMAN ACTION FIGURE | JUN130307 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN BOOSTER BRICK | SEP132436 | NEC |
| 2 | RISK: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION | OCT128267 | USA |
| 3 | MONOPOLY: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION | OCT128266 | USA |
| 4 | GAME OF THRONES: WESTEROS 4D CITYSCAPE PUZZLE | AUG132098 | 4D |
| 5 | MARVEL HEROCLIX:AVX: AVENGERS STARTER SET | AUG138092 | NEC |
| 6 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: AVX: X-MEN STARTER SET | AUG138093 | NEC |
| 7 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN BOOSTER PACKS | SEP132435 | NEC |
| 8 | THE WALKING DEAD TV BOARD GAME: THE BEST DEFENSE | MAR132230 | CRY |
| 9 | DC HEROCLIX: BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS BOOSTER PACKS | JUL138429 | NEC |
| 10 | FIREFLY BOARD GAME | MAY132319 | ALL |
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.
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 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, lenticular covers, digital combo packs, 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.
