Media Release -- The awakening of the Serpent and Odin's removal of the Asgardians from Earth set the stage for Marvel Comics' next cataclysm in Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen's Fear Itself #1, the first part of a seven-issue mini-series event and April's top selling comic book to comics specialty retailers, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics was the leading comic book publisher in April with a Dollar Market Share of 40.14% and a Unit Market Share of 37.95%.
Sales of comic books and graphic novels fell in April, with comic books sales down over March's sales by 10.53% and graphic novel sales down 7.95%. For the year-to-date, comic sales declined by 6.90% compared to the same period in 2010, while graphic novel sales declined by 5.67%.
The latest chapter in Bill Willingham's best-selling Fables saga, Fables Volume 15: Rose Red, from DC Comics' Vertigo imprint was the best-selling graphic novel to comic shops in April.
The characters from BioWare's best-selling action RPG for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Mass Effect 2, were brought to life by DC Direct for their Mass Effect Series 1 Action Figures, April's best-selling Toy product to comics specialty retailers.
The omnipotent Dr. Manhattan from Zack Snyder's Watchmen film, based on the DC Comics graphic novel, joined the HeroClix family with April's best-selling Games product sold to comics specialty retailers, the Watchmen HeroClix: Dr. Manhattan Big Figure, a towering figure from NECA/WizKids.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 40.14% | 37.95% |
DC COMICS | 27.09% | 26.89% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 5.17% | 4.06% |
IMAGE COMICS | 5.15% | 4.60% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.89% | 4.52% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 3.05% | 1.92% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.94% | 2.61% |
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD | 1.21% | 0.23% |
VIZ MEDIA | 0.93% | 0.33% |
ARCHIE COMICS | 0.78% | 2.64% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 9.66% | 14.26% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
APRIL 2011 VS. MARCH 2011 | ||
COMICS | -10.53% | -13.80% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -7.95% | -10.99% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -9.71% | -13.58% |
APRIL 2011 VS. APRIL 2010 | ||
COMICS | -1.75% | -3.73% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -0.84% | -6.03% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -1.46% | -3.92% |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2011 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2010 | ||
COMICS | -6.90% | -6.99% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -5.67% | -11.53% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -6.50% | -7.38% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | FEAR ITSELF #1 | $3.99 | FEB110500-M | MAR |
2 | THE MIGHTY THOR #1 | $3.99 | FEB110544-M | MAR |
3 | GREEN LANTERN #65 | $2.99 | FEB110114-M | DC |
4 | BRIGHTEST DAY #23 | $2.99 | FEB110120-M | DC |
5 | FF #2 | $2.99 | FEB110578-M | MAR |
6 | BRIGHTEST DAY #24 | $4.99 | FEB110122-M | DC |
7 | AVENGERS #12 | $3.99 | FEB110528 | MAR |
8 | BATMAN INCORPORATED #5 | $2.99 | JAN110265-M | DC |
9 | NEW AVENGERS #11 | $3.99 | FEB110534-M | MAR |
10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #658 | $3.99 | FEB110551-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | FABLES VOLUME 15: ROSE RED TP (MR) | 17.99 | JAN110422 | DC |
2 | THE BOYS VOLUME 8: HIGHLAND LADDIE TP | 19.99 | FEB110945 | DE |
3 | INVINCIBLE VOLUME 14: VILTRUMITE WAR TP | 19.99 | FEB110438 | IMA |
4 | GREEN LANTERN: SECRET ORIGIN TP | 14.99 | JAN110337-M | DC |
5 | THE FLASH: REBIRTH TP | 14.99 | JAN110329 | DC |
6 | DAN CLOWES' MISTER WONDERFUL HC | 19.95 | JAN111279 | RAN |
7 | ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT TP | 19.99 | FEB110685 | MAR |
8 | CHAOS WAR TP | 19.99 | FEB110676 | MAR |
9 | Y THE LAST MAN DELUXE EDITION VOL. 5 HC (MR) | 29.99 | DEC100308 | DC |
10 | GOTHAM CITY SIRENS VOLUME 1: UNION TP | 17.99 | JAN110323 | DC |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | MASS EFFECT SERIES 1 ACTION FIGURES | JAN100400 | DC |
2 | MARVEL SELECT: THOR MOVIE ACTION FIGURE | DEC101430 | DST |
3 | BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE: JOKER BY LEE BERMEJO | AUG100294 | DC |
4 | MARVEL SELECT: THOR MOVIE LOKI ACTION FIGURE | DEC101432 | DST |
5 | BACK TO THE FUTURE TIME MACHINE MARK I CAR | MAR094739 | DST |
6 | DC GREEN LANTERN WAVE 2 "STEL SERIES" FIGURES | AUG108130 | MAT |
7 | KILLZONE SERIES 1 ACTION FIGURES | JUN100302 | DC |
8 | MARVEL: BLACK CAT BISHOUJO STATUE | NOV101564 | KOT |
9 | STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN COMMUNICATOR | MAY101495 | DST |
10 | RATCHET & CLANK SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES | MAY100320 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | WATCHMEN HEROCLIX: DR. MANHATTAN BIG FIGURE | FEB111881 | NEC |
2 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: HIDDEN ARSENAL BOOSTER SERIES 4 | DEC108364 | KON |
3 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: SCARS OF MIRRODIN BOOSTER PACKS | AUG101862 | WIZ |
4 | MUNCHKIN ZOMBIES | FEB111870 | PSI |
5 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: MIRRODIN BESIEGED BOOSTER PACKS | DEC101712 | WIZ |
6 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2011 CORE SET BOOSTER PACKS | MAY101847 | WIZ |
7 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RISE OF ELDRAZI BOOSTER PACKS | FEB101691 | WIZ |
8 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: KNIGHTS VS DRAGONS DUEL DECKS | FEB111878 | WIZ |
9 | MOUSE GUARD RPG HC | APR098450 | ARA |
10 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: WEB OF SPIDER-MAN BOOSTER PACK | JUN101864 | NEC |
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.
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