(BALTIMORE, MD) — (January 15, 2009) — Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion #8 was the best-selling comic book title based on total unit sales to comic book specialty shops for December 2008, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
The conclusion to Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Yu’s epic limited series event, Secret Invasion #8 joins other series issues at the top of the sales charts, marking an unprecedented run for the title.
Marvel Comics also grabbed the top publisher spot in December, leading both Retail Dollar and Unit Market Shares, with a 45.05% Unit Market Share, and a 49.63% Retail Dollar Market Share.
The top-selling graphic novel for November was DC Comics’ Joker HC, which reunited the acclaimed team behind Lex Luthor: Man of Steel – writer Brian Azzarello and artists Lee Bermejo & Mick Gray – for an in-depth look at the Clown Prince of Crime.
DC Direct’s World of Warcraft Series 3 Master Case Assortment netted the number one Toy product and The Upper Deck Company’s World of Warcraft CMG Deluxe Edition Set was the best-selling Game product to comic book specialty shops.
TOP
COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| QUANTITY SHARE | RETAIL SHARE | |
| MARVEL COMICS |
45.05% | 49.63% |
| DC COMICS |
29.05% | 31.15% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
5.23% | 4.24% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
3.59% | 3.21% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
2.90% | 2.57% |
| OTHERS | 14.18% | 9.20% |
TOP 10 COMICS
| Quantity Rank | Description | Price | Item Code | Vendor |
| 1 | SECRET INVASION #8 |
$3.99 | SEP082358-60 | Marvel Comics |
| 2 | FINAL CRISIS #5 |
$3.99 | AUG080114 | DC Comics |
| 3 | SECRET INVASION DARK REIGN |
$3.99 | OCT082339-40 | Marvel Comics |
| 4 | NEW AVENGERS #47 |
$2.99 | SEP082361 | Marvel Comics |
| 5 | NEW AVENGERS #48 |
$2.99 | OCT082345 | Marvel Comics |
| 6 | BATMAN #682 | $2.99 | SEP080111-2 | DC Comics |
| 7 | BATMAN #683 | $2.99 | SEP080113-4 | DC Comics |
| 8 | HULK #9 | $2.99 | OCT082409-10 | Marvel Comics |
| 9 | MIGHTY AVENGERS #20 |
$2.99 | SEP082368 | Marvel Comics |
| 10 | ULTIMATUM #2 | $3.99 | SEP082309-10 | Marvel Comics |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC
NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| Quantity Rank | Description | Price | Item Code | Vendor |
| 1 | JOKER HC | $19.99 | JUL080124 | DC Comics |
| 2 | WATCHMEN TP | $19.99 | FEB058406 | DC Comics |
| 3 | JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 04 AMERICANA (MR) |
$14.99 | SEP080219 | DC Comics |
| 4 | NARUTO TP VOL 33 |
$7.95 | SEP084332 | VIZ Media |
| 5 | STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP VOL 02 CRASH COURSE |
$7.95 | AUG080083 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 6 | STAR WARS LEGACY TP VOL 04 ALLIANCE |
$15.95 | AUG080086 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 7 | BLEACH TP VOL 25 |
$7.95 | SEP084333 | VIZ Media |
| 8 | ASTONISHING X-MEN HC VOL 02 |
$34.99 | SEP082437-8 | Marvel Comics |
| 9 | ULTIMATES 3 PREMIUM HC: WHO KILLED SCARLET WITCH |
$24.99 | OCT082502-4 | Marvel Comics |
| 10 | BATMAN JOKERS ASYLUM TP |
$14.99 | SEP080172 | DC Comics |
TOP 10 TOYS
| Retail Rank | Description | Code | Vendor |
| 1 | WORLD OF WARCRAFT SERIES 3 |
APR080319 | DC Direct |
| 2 | STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE CRUCIBLE PREVIEWS EXCLUSIVE ACTION FIGURE |
JAN088285 | Kenner/Hasbro |
| 3 | IRON MAN MOVIE FINE ART STATUE |
MAY084835 | Kotobukiya |
| 4 | STAR WARS: ULTIMATE QUARTER SCALE: DARTH MAUL ACTION FIGURE |
AUG084941 | Diamond Select Toys |
| 5 | WORLD OF WARCRAFT TAUREN HUNTER |
MAY080302 | DC Direct |
| 6 | WONDER WOMAN 1/4 SCALE MUSEUM QUALITY STATUE |
APR080306 | DC Direct |
| 7 | JLA BUILD A SCENE STATUE PART 3 |
MAR080253 | DC Direct |
| 8 | BLACK CANARY 1/6 SCALE DELUXE COLL FIGURE |
MAY080287 | DC Direct |
| 9 | DARK KNIGHT JOKER 1/6 SCALE COLL FIGURE |
APR080295 | DC Direct |
| 10 | MARVEL SELECT BEST OF ACTION FIGURE ASST #3 |
JUN083586 | Diamond Select Toys |
TOP
10 GAMES
| Retail Rank | Description | Code | Vendor |
| 1 | WORLD OF WARCRAFT CMG DELUXE EDITION SET |
MAY085148 | The Upper Deck Company |
| 2 | WORLD OF WARCRAFT CMG BOOSTER PACK |
MAY085149 | The Upper Deck Company |
| 3 | YU GI OH TCG CROSSROADS OF CHAOS SE |
OCT085195 | The Upper Deck Company |
| 4 | DC HEROCLIX ARKHAM ASYLUM BOOSTER PACK |
AUG085406 | WizKids |
| 5 | VS SYSTEM TCG MARVEL EVOLUTION BOOSTER PCK DIS (Net) |
SEP085214 | The Upper Deck Company |
| 6 | MAGIC THE GATHERING: TCG SHARDS ALARA BOOSTER |
MAY088379 | Wizards of the Coast |
| 7 | BATTLESTAR GALACTICA BOARD GAME |
AUG085302 | Fantasy Flight Publishing |
| 8 | MOUSE GUARD RPG HC |
JUN083656 | Archaia Studios Press |
| 9 | TALISMAN BOARD GAME REVISED 4TH ED |
SEP085144 | Fantasy Flight Publishing |
| 10 | D&D MANUAL OF THE PLANES |
OCT085207 | Wizards of the Coast |
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 4,000+ accounts, comprised of comic book specialty shops and other merchant stores and buyers. The shops are primarily located in North America, with a percentage of sales also to international stores and buyers located throughout 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 4,000 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.
