Media Release -- David Finch, the artist of November's top-selling comic book, Batman: The Return, continued his run atop the comic book sales charts as his new series from DC Comics, Batman: The Dark Knight, debuted as December's best-selling comic book, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture merchandise.
In a rare event, the top publisher for the month was split in December; DC Comics was the top publisher in the Dollar Share of the market, while rival Marvel Comics was the month's top publisher in terms of Unit Share.
Comic book sales for December rebounded from November, increasing by 2.58%, and Graphic Novel sales increased by 5.76% over the previous month. December's Graphic Novel sales were also up an astounding 26.74% over December 2009. For the quarter, overall comic and graphic novel sales declined 0.16% over the third quarter of 2010 and were up 1.74% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.
Bill Willingham's Fables, the series that explores the characters of myth and fairy tales as they interact with the real world, saw its latest collected edition, Fables Volume 14: Witches, published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint, top December's Graphic Novel sales chart.
The heroes and villains of DC Comics' crossover Blackest Night, including Green Lantern Hal Jordan and the Blue Lantern Flash, were brought to life as the Blackest Night Series 6 Action Figures, the best-selling Toy product to comics specialty retailers in December.
In December, NECA/WizKids celebrated the diamond jubilee of DC Comics with their DC HeroClix: 75th-Anniversary Expansion series, featuring characters drawn from the rich history of the comics publisher, which was the best-selling Games product to comics specialty retailers for the month.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
DC COMICS | 33.07% | 36.99% |
MARVEL COMICS | 32.28% | 38.90% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 5.77% | 4.49% |
IMAGE COMICS | 5.22% | 3.44% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 4.15% | 3.38% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.75% | 2.33% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.95% | 1.79% |
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.47% | 0.34% |
VIZ MEDIA | 1.33% | 0.66% |
AVATAR PRESS | 1.04% | 1.02% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 10.97% | 6.65% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
DECEMBER 2010 VS. NOVEMBER 2010 | ||
COMICS | 2.58% | 2.89% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 5.76% | 2.05% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 3.67% | 2.81% |
DECEMBER 2010 VS. DECEMBER 2009 | ||
COMICS | -7.45% | -10.68% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 26.74% | 26.24% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.20% | -8.11% |
FOURTH QUARTER 2010 VS. THIRD QUARTER 2010 | ||
COMICS | -1.89% | -4.39% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 3.35% | 6.24% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -0.16% | -3.45% |
FOURTH QUARTER 2010 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2009 | ||
COMICS | -4.72% | -8.72% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 16.96% | 23.27% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 1.74% | -6.36% |
YEAR 2010 VS. YEAR 2009 | ||
COMICS | -4.65% | -5.91% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -1.02% | -1.52% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -3.48% | -5.54% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1 | $3.99 | SEP100159-M | DC |
2 | GREEN LANTERN #60 | $2.99 | SEP100200-M | DC |
3 | BRIGHTEST DAY #15 | $2.99 | OCT100206-M | DC |
4 | BRIGHTEST DAY #16 | $2.99 | OCT100208-M | DC |
5 | GREEN LANTERN #61 | $2.99 | OCT100214-M | DC |
6 | BATMAN, INCORPORATED #2 | $3.99 | OCT100172-M | DC |
7 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #18 | $2.99 | OCT100180-M | DC |
8 | NEW AVENGERS #7 | $3.99 | OCT100572-M | MAR |
9 | AVENGERS #8 | $3.99 | OCT100570 | MAR |
10 | BATMAN #705 | $2.99 | OCT100176 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | FABLES VOLUME 14: WITCHES TP (MR) | $17.99 | SEP100304 | DC |
2 | SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE HC | $19.99 | JUN100127 | DC |
3 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP | $9.99 | JUL068351 | IMA |
4 | BRIGHTEST DAY VOLUME 1 HC | $29.99 | AUG100197 | DC |
5 | PLANETARY BOOK 4: SPACETIME ARCHAEOLOGY | $17.99 | SEP100285 | DC |
6 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 13: TOO FAR GONE TP | $14.99 | SEP100413 | IMA |
7 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHIND US TP | $14.99 | SEP088204-M | IMA |
8 | SWEET TOOTH VOLUME 2: IN CAPTIVITY TP | $12.99 | SEP100317 | DC |
9 | STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS VOLUME 6: THE DEADLY HANDS OF SHON-JU TP | $7.99 | AUG100017 | DAR |
10 | SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN DELUXE HC | $29.99 | AUG100209 | DC |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 6 ACTION FIGURES | APR100310 | DC |
2 | MARVEL SELECT: DEADPOOL ACTION FIGURE | MAR101468 | DST |
3 | SUPERMAN: NEW KRYPTON SERIES 1 ACTION FIGURES | MAR100346 | DC |
4 | SUPERMAN VS. MUHAMMAD ALI STATUE | APR100300 | DC |
5 | DC HEROES WAVE 15 "VALIDUS SERIES" ACTION FIGURES | FEB108038 | MAT |
6 | BLACKEST NIGHT: SINESTRO CORPS MONGUL DELUXE ACTION FIGURE | JAN100379 | DC |
7 | WOMEN OF THE DCU SERIES 3 CATWOMAN BUST | JAN100396 | DC |
8 | MARVEL SELECT MAGNETO AF | APR101444 | DST |
9 | MARVEL UNIVERSE AF ASST 201101 | OCT101522 | KEN |
10 | KITTY PRYDE STATUE | JUN101614 | BOW |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | DC HEROCLIX: 75TH-ANNIVERSARY BOOSTER PACKS | SEP101745 | NEC |
2 | DC HEROCLIX: 75TH ANNIVERSARY ORGANIZED PLAY KIT | SEP101746 | NEC |
3 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: THE WEB OF SPIDER-MAN BOOSTER PACKS | JUN101864 | NEC |
4 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: SCARS OF MIRRODIN BOOSTER PACKS | AUG101862 | WIZ |
5 | WORLD OF WARCRAFT TCG: WORLDBREAKER BOOSTER PACKS | SEP101692 | CRY |
6 | CIVILIZATION BOARD GAME | OCT101776 | FAN |
7 | RESIDENT EVIL DECK BUILDING GAME | OCT101752 | BAN |
8 | SETTLERS OF CATAN 15TH-ANNIVERSARY WOOD EDITION | NOV101696 | MAY |
9 | DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 4TH-EDITION DUNGEON MASTER TOKEN SET | JUN101805 | GAL |
10 | YU-GI-OH! TCG HIDDEN ARSENAL #3 | AUG108194 | KON |
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.