Media Release -- In the wake of the DC Universe's Blackest Night, a new dawn arrives in the form of Brightest Day #0, ushering in a new age of heroism with this prelude issue to the 26-part biweekly series and giving DC Comics the best-selling comic book in April 2010, based upon total unit sales to comic book specialty shops, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
Marvel Comics took the top publisher spot in April with the company leading in both the Unit Market and Dollar Shares categories, for a 45.02% Unit Market Share and a 39.35% Dollar Share for the month.
With its sales driven by Lionsgate's just-released film adaptation, Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.'s, Kick-Ass was the best-selling graphic novel to comic shops in April, putting this Marvel Comics' title atop the chart for the second month in a row.
DC Direct brought the heroes and villains of their best-selling comic book mini-series Blackest Night to life, and the Blackest Night Series 4 Action Figures, featuring characters such as Star Sapphire Wonder Woman or Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, gave DC Comics the best-selling Toy product to comics specialty retailers in April. NECA/WizKids' latest expansion for the HeroClix miniatures game, the DC HeroClix: The Brave and the Bold Expansion, gave the publisher the best-selling game product to specialty retailers for the month.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | UNIT SHARE | DOLLAR SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 45.02% | 39.35% |
DC COMICS | 32.69% | 30.39% |
IMAGE COMICS | 4.26% | 3.96% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.82% | 4.88% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 3.41% | 3.92% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.38% | 2.33% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.39% | 1.58% |
VIZ MEDIA | 0.73% | 1.56% |
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT | 0.65% | 0.64% |
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS | 0.62% | 0.52% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 5.04% | 10.88% |
TOP 10 COMICS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BRIGHTEST DAY #0 | $3.99 | FEB100116-M | DC |
2 | THE FLASH #1 | $3.99 | FEB100123-M | DC |
3 | GREEN LANTERN #53 | $2.99 | FEB100118-M | DC |
4 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #11 | $2.99 | FEB100130-M | DC |
5 | NEW AVENGERS #64 | $3.99 | FEB100428 | MAR |
6 | UNCANNY X-MEN #523 | $2.99 | FEB100555-M | MAR |
7 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 | $3.99 | FEB100519-M | MAR |
8 | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #47 | $3.99 | FEB100121-M | DC |
9 | ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #1 | $3.99 | FEB100473-M | MAR |
10 | THOR #609 | $2.99 | FEB100433-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | KICK-ASS PREMIERE HC (MR) | $24.99 | DEC090575 | MAR |
2 | BATMAN AND ROBIN DELUXE VOL. 1: BATMAN REBORN HC | $24.99 | DEC090201 | DC |
3 | THE FLASH: REBIRTH HC | $19.99 | DEC090206 | DC |
4 | B.P.R.D. VOLUME 12: WAR ON FROGS GN | $17.99 | JAN100191 | DAR |
5 | ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE VS. HULK TP | $19.99 | FEB100621 | MAR |
6 | CROSSED VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $24.99 | FEB100697 | AVA |
7 | WITCHFINDER: IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS VOLUME 1 TP | $17.99 | DEC090046 | DAR |
8 | BENNY AND PENNY: THE BIG NO NO HC | $12.95 | FEB094433 | RAW |
9 | STAR WARS: INVASION VOLUME 1: REFUGEES TP | $18.99 | JAN100192 | DAR |
10 | MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 TP | $16.99 | FEB100619 | MAR |
TOP 10 TOYS & STATUES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 4 ACTION FIGURES | SEP090248 | DC |
2 | WOMEN OF THE DCU SERIES 3: BATGIRL BUST | SEP090247 | DC |
3 | AVENGERS REBORN: THOR FINE ART STATUE | NOV091334 | KOT |
4 | JSA SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES | JUN090292 | DC |
5 | MARVEL VILLAINS: VENOM FINE ART STATUE | OCT091583 | KOT |
6 | AME-COMI: ROBIN VINYL FIGURE | JUL090326 | DC |
7 | AME-COMI: BATMAN VINYL STATUE | JUL090325 | DC |
8 | THE SIMPSONS SERIES 1 MINI-FIGURES | FEB101432 | BEA |
9 | STAR TREK: CLASSIC CAPTAIN'S CHAIR REPLICA | JAN094948 | DST |
10 | MARVEL SELECT: IRON MAN 2 ACTION FIGURE | NOV091231 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | DC HEROCLIX: BRAVE & BOLD BOOSTER PACK | JAN101703 | NEC |
2 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RISE OF THE ELDRAZI BOOSTERS | FEB101691 | WIZ |
3 | DC HEROCLIX: BRAVE & BOLD RETAILER KIT | JAN101704 | NEC |
4 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RISE OF THE ELDRAZI FAT PACKS | FEB101693 | WIZ |
5 | STAR WARS CMG: MASTERS OF THE FORCE BOOSTER PACKS | FEB101696 | WIZ |
6 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RISE OF THE ELDRAZI INTRO DECKS | FEB101692 | WIZ |
7 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: WORLDWAKE BOOSTERS | DEC091562 | WIZ |
8 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: ZENDIKAR BOOSTERS | AUG091778 | WIZ |
9 | WARHAMMER 40,000: THE HORUS HERESY BOARD GAME | FEB101643 | FAN |
10 | MYSTERY EXPRESS BOARD GAME | FEB101640 | DAY |
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 dollars sales are calculated based upon orders 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.
ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS — the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise, Diamond is based in Baltimore, MD, and services more than 3,500 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.