Media Release -- The Crime Syndicate has invaded Earth and the villains have taken charge in Forever Evil #1 from Geoff Johns and David Finch, the debut issue of the autumn crossover event from DC Entertainment and the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in September 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 September's top publisher, with a 40.39% dollar share and 45.17% unit share for the month. Marvel placed second for the month with 5 out of the top 10 comic titles, led by Infinity #2 & #3 and Mighty Avengers #1.
Comic Book Specialty Market sales in September increased sharply over August. Driven by DC Entertainment's "Villains Month," comic sales were up nearly 32% over the previous month, and graphic novels climbed by nearly 12%. Year-to-date comics sales are up by 12.5% over 2012.
Summarizing the top products from the below charts: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ride in the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is the near-future American West in Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta's East of West Volume 1: The Promise, the first collected edition of the best-selling series from Image Comics and the best-selling graphic novel for September.
Jeffrey Brown, the indie comics sensation behind the best-selling Darth Vader & Son, returns to a galaxy far, far away with new characters and new hijinks for young readers in Chronicle Books' Star Wars: Jedi Academy, the month's best-selling book in the comic book specialty market.
Based on a design by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau, Barbara Gordon is suited up for action in DC Collectibles' DC Comics Cover Girls: Batgirl Statue, September's best-selling toy product to direct market retailers.
The classic play style of Risk expands through successive games in Hasbro's Risk Legacy, the best-selling game product to the direct market for the month.
Also noteworthy: Dark Horse Comics’ Star Wars Volume 1: In the Shadow of Yavin TP debuted at number three on the Graphic Novel & Trade Paperbacks list, while The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia HC continued its 10-month run in the Top 10 Books List. In addition, IDW Publishing’s My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Volume 2 TP also debuted on the top GN/TP list.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 40.39% | 45.17% |
| MARVEL COMICS | 28.49% | 29.83% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 6.87% | 7.00% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 4.89% | 4.12% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.76% | 4.04% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.27% | 2.19% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.83% | 1.65% |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 0.95% | 0.15% |
| AVATAR PRESS | 0.88% | 0.72% |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT | 0.87% | 0.91% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 7.79% | 4.23% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTAL SHIPPED |
| DC COMICS | 129 | 22 | 0 | 151 |
| MARVEL COMICS | 67 | 32 | 0 | 99 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 39 | 15 | 0 | 54 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 27 | 19 | 0 | 46 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 32 | 12 | 0 | 44 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 31 | 5 | 0 | 36 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 19 | 6 | 0 | 25 |
| AVATAR PRESS | 8 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT | 7 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| EAGLEMOSS | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| OTHER | 85 | 140 | 33 | 258 |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| SEPTEMBER 2013 VS. AUGUST 2013 | ||
| COMICS | 31.66% | 29.26% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 11.93% | 9.89% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 25.69% | 27.79% |
| SEPTEMBER 2013 VS. SEPTEMBER 2012 | ||
| COMICS | 33.90% | 26.97% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 1.76% | -2.96% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 23.40% | 24.47% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2013 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 | ||
| COMICS | 12.50% | 9.56% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 6.03% | 3.67% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 10.43% | 9.09% |
| THIRD QUARTER 2013 VS. SECOND QUARTER 2013 | ||
| COMICS | 7.00% | 5.59% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -1.79% | -2.05% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 4.21% | 4.98% |
| THIRD QUARTER 2013 VS. THIRD QUARTER 2012 | ||
| COMICS | 11.12% | 8.27% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 0.30% | -4.86% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 7.64% | 7.16% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | FOREVER EVIL #1 | $3.99 | JUL130149-M | DC |
| 2 | INFINITY #2 | $3.99 | JUL130565-M | MAR |
| 3 | INFINITY #3 | $3.99 | JUL130570-M | MAR |
| 4 | X-MEN: BATTLE OF ATOM #1 | $3.99 | JUL130658-M | MAR |
| 5 | BATMAN #23.1: THE JOKER | $3.99 | JUL130185 | DC |
| 6 | BATMAN #23.2: THE RIDDLER | $3.99 | JUL130186 | DC |
| 7 | MIGHTY AVENGERS #1 | $3.99 | JUL130582-M | MAR |
| 8 | BATMAN #23.4: BANE | $3.99 | JUL130188 | DC |
| 9 | AVENGERS #19 | $3.99 | JUL130578-M | MAR |
| 10 | BATMAN #23.3: THE PENGUIN | $3.99 | JUL130187 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | EAST OF WEST VOLUME 1: THE PROMISE TP | $9.99 | JUN130466 | IMA |
| 2 | JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL. 3: THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS HC | $24.99 | MAY130218 | DC |
| 3 | STAR WARS VOLUME 1: IN THE SHADOW OF YAVIN TP | $19.99 | MAY130061 | DAR |
| 4 | THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 9 HC (MR) | $34.99 | JUL130491 | IMA |
| 5 | THE WALKING DEAD 100 PROJECT TP (MR) | $12.99 | JUL130500 | IMA |
| 6 | JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL. 2: THE VILLAINS' JOURNEY TP | $16.99 | JUN130261 | DC |
| 7 | SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | AUG120491 | IMA |
| 8 | SAGA VOLUME 2 TP (MR) | $14.99 | APR130443 | IMA |
| 9 | MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC VOLUME 2 TP | $17.99 | JUL130301 | IDW |
| 10 | SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN VOLUME 1 HC | $34.99 | APR130716-M | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | STAR WARS: JEDI ACADEMY HC | $12.99 | JUN131516 | SCH |
| 2 | NEIL GAIMAN: FORTUNATELY THE MILK HC | $14.99 | JUL131502 | HAR |
| 3 | DC SUPER HEROES WONDER WOMAN: ATTACK OF THE CHEETAH SC | $4.95 | JUN131469 | CAP |
| 4 | DOCTOR WHO: CYBERMAN BUST & BOOK KIT | $9.95 | JUL131466 | RUN |
| 5 | THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC | $34.99 | SEP120055 | DAR |
| 6 | DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN: TWO-FACE'S DOUBLE TAKE SC | $4.95 | JUL131459 | CAP |
| 7 | DC SUPER HEROES WONDER WOMAN: MONSTER MAGIC | $4.95 | JUN131470 | CAP |
| 8 | FRANK FRAZETTA: ART AND REMEMBRANCES HC | $49.99 | MAY131406 | HER |
| 9 | DC SUPER HEROES WONDER WOMAN: CREATURE OF CHAOS | $4.95 | JUN131468 | CAP |
| 10 | MARVEL CHRONICLE: A YEAR BY YEAR HISTORY HC | $50.00 | JUL131453 | DK |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DC COMICS COVER GIRLS: BATGIRL STATUE | APR130281 | DC |
| 2 | DC COMICS VARIANT PLAY ARTS KAI: WONDER WOMAN FIGURE | MAR138269 | SQU |
| 3 | DC COMICS VARIANT PLAY ARTS KAI: BATMAN FIGURE | MAR138267 | SQU |
| 4 | MARVEL SELECT: THE WOLVERINE MOVIE FIGURE | APR131745 | DST |
| 5 | DOCTOR WHO TITANS SERIES 2 MINI-FIGURES | APR131875 | TTN |
| 6 | DC THE NEW 52: TRINITY WAR ACTION FIGURE BOX SET | MAY130271 | DC |
| 7 | BATMAN: HUSH: SCARECROW/NIGHTWING/POISON IVY ACTION FIGURE 3-PACK | MAY130286 | DC |
| 8 | DC COMICS VARIANT PLAY ARTS KAI: GREEN LANTERN FIGURE | MAR138268 | SQU |
| 9 | DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: SUPERGIRL STATUE | MAR130317 | DC |
| 10 | MARVEL UNIVERSE ACTION FIGURES | MAY131824 | HAS |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | RISK LEGACY | JUN118204 | HAS |
| 2 | DC HEROCLIX: BATMAN '66 CLASSIC TV SERIES EXPANSION | JUN138233 | NEC |
| 3 | DC HEROCLIX: BATMAN '66 CLASSIC TV SERIES BATMOBILE | JUN138232 | NEC |
| 4 | MY LITTLE PONY MONOPOLY | MAY132328 | USA |
| 5 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: WOLVERINE & X-MEN BOOSTER BRICK | JUN132403 | NEC |
| 6 | THE WALKING DEAD TV BOARD GAME | JUL112137 | CRY |
| 7 | YU-GI-OH! TCG 2013 WAVE 1 COLLECTIBLE TINS | MAY138246 | KON |
| 8 | THE WALKING DEAD COMIC BOARD GAME | JUL112185 | ALL |
| 9 | MAGIC THE GATHERING CCG DUEL DECKS: HEROES VS. MONSTERS | JUN138373 | ALL |
| 10 | PATHFINDER ADVENTURE CARD GAME: RISE OF THE RUNELORDS BASE SET | JUN132383 | PAI |
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, 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.
