Media Release -- The Avengers stormed the shores of the X-Men's island of Utopia and the conflict between the two teams escalated in Marvel Comics' Avengers Vs. X-Men #2, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in April 2012, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics was April's leading publisher in both Retail Dollar and Unit Market Shares with 34.64% and 39.07% respectively. DC Entertainment, which had six of the month's top-ten bestselling comics, was second in both Retail Dollar and Unit Market Shares with 30.12% and 34.06% respectively.
Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye, the first volume of his bestselling zombie series from Image Comics, was the top-selling graphic novel to comics retailers for the second month in a row. Seven volumes of The Walking Dead placed in the top ten, and all fifteen volumes of the Image Comics series ranked in the top twenty.
Designed by acclaimed concept artist Shunya Yamashita, Kotobukiya's Marvel X Bishoujo: X-23 Statue, which presented the Marvel Comics hero in a Japanese anime style, was the bestselling Toy product to specialty retailers in April.
For the second month in a row, NECA/WizKids' Marvel HeroClix: Galactic Guardians expansion was the best-selling Games product to comics retailers, with the expansion's booster brick topping April's sales chart.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
RETAIL MARKET SHARE | UNIT MARKET SHARE | ||
PUBLISHER | SHARE | PUBLISHER | SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 34.64% | MARVEL COMICS | 39.07% |
DC COMICS | 30.12% | DC COMICS | 34.06% |
IMAGE COMICS | 8.60% | IMAGE COMICS | 6.61% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 5.37% | DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.64% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 4.22% | DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 3.90% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 3.89% | IDW PUBLISHING | 3.40% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.67% | BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.92% |
AVATAR PRESS | 0.97% | ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT | 0.89% |
VIZ MEDIA | 0.92% | AVATAR PRESS | 0.82% |
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT | 0.92% | ARCHIE COMICS | 0.71% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.68% | OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 3.98% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
APRIL 2012 VS. MARCH 2012 | ||
COMICS | 5.40% | 2.47% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 9.84% | -0.28% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 6.77% | 2.25% |
APRIL 2012 VS. APRIL 2011 | ||
COMICS | 16.30% | 16.11% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 12.56% | 15.32% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 15.09% | 16.04% |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2011 | ||
COMICS | 15.94% | 15.12% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 9.47% | 9.29% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 13.84% | 14.65% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #2 | $3.99 | FEB120534 | MAR |
2 | BATMAN #8 | $3.99 | FEB120186 | DC |
3 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #8 | $3.99 | FEB120160 | DC |
4 | AVX VS #1 | $3.99 | FEB120531 | MAR |
5 | GREEN LANTERN #8 | $2.99 | FEB120204 | DC |
6 | ACTION COMICS #8 | $3.99 | FEB120178 | DC |
7 | DETECTIVE COMICS #8 | $3.99 | FEB120190 | DC |
8 | BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #8 | $2.99 | FEB120193 | DC |
9 | UNCANNY X-MEN #11 | $3.99 | FEB120545 | MAR |
10 | AVENGERS #25 | $3.99 | FEB120541 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP | $9.99 | JUL068351 | IMA |
2 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHINDUS TP | $14.99 | SEP088204 | IMA |
3 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 3: SAFETY BEHIND BARS TP | $14.99 | NOV082245 | IMA |
4 | FLEX MENTALLO: MAN OF MUSCLE AND MYSTERY DELUXE HC | $22.99 | OCT110285 | DC |
5 | CHEW VOL. 5: MAJOR LEAGUE CHEW TP | $12.99 | FEB120425 | IMA |
6 | CINDERELLA: FABLES ARE FOREVER TP (MR) | $14.99 | JAN120331 | DC |
7 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 5: BEST DEFENSE TP | $14.99 | SEP088206 | IMA |
8 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 15: WE FIND OURSELVES TP | $14.99 | OCT110502 | IMA |
9 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 4: HEARTS DESIRE TP | $14.99 | SEP088205 | IMA |
10 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 6: SORROWFUL LIFE TP | $14.99 | SEP088207 | IMA |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | MARVEL X BISHOUJO: X-23 STATUE | SEP111717 | KOT |
2 | MARVEL: MAGNETO FINE ART STATUE | SEP111715 | KOT |
3 | METAL GEAR SOLID PLAY ARTS KAI: CYBORG NINJA FIGURE | JAN121895 | SQU |
4 | STAR WARS: OBI-WAN KENOBI " FINALBATTLE" ARTFX | SEP111714 | KOT |
5 | BATMAN BUST | DEC110334 | DC |
6 | STARCRAFT PREMIUM SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES | DEC110338 | DC |
7 | SIMPSONS SERIES 2 MINI-FIGURES | DEC101455 | BEA |
8 | FEMME FATALES: RAVEN HEX PVC STATUE | NOV111473 | DIA |
9 | GEARS OF WAR 3 SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES | FEB121586 | NEC |
10 | STAR WARS VINTAGE ACTION FIGURES | JAN121809 | KEN |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: GALACTIC GUARDIANS BOOSTER BRICK | FEB121832 | NEC |
2 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: AVENGERS MOVIE BOOSTER PACKS | JAN122087 | NEC |
3 | RISK LEGACY | JUN118204 | KEN |
4 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: AVENGERS MOVIE STARTER SET | JAN122088 | NEC |
5 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: GALACTIC GUARDIANS FAST FORCES 6 PACK | FEB121833 | NEC |
6 | DOCTOR WHO: MONSTER INVASION TCG BOOSTER PACKS | NOV118179 | IMM |
7 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: GALACTIC GUARDIANS MARQUEE PACK | FEB121834 | NEC |
8 | DOCTOR WHO: MONSTER INVASION EXTREME TCG BOOSTER PACKS | NOV118180 | IMM |
9 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: GALACTIC GUARDIANS PRIMER DS | FEB121831 | NEC |
10 | TICKET TO RIDE | MAR043750 | 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 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 (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.