Media Release -- A hero fell as Peter Parker made the ultimate sacrifice to save his family and friends from the Green Goblin in Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley's Ultimate Spider-Man #160 from Marvel Comics, June's best-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 also the leading publisher of comic books and graphic novels in June, with a 39.32% share of total dollars and a 43.04% share of total units sold. In total, June's printed material sales increased over May, with Comics improving by 18.31% and Graphic Novels by 17.67%. Sales fell slightly from the same month last year, with Comics down 4.62% and Graphic Novels down 8.15%. Sales for the second quarter also improved over the first quarter, with Comics up 8.41% and Graphic Novels up 13.75%. Total merchandise sales in June increased by 104% over May, led by Apparel (up 238%) and Toys (up 135%).
Helping to fuel the increase in print sales was June's top-selling Graphic Novel, Image Comics' The Walking Dead Volume 14: No Way Out, the latest volume of Robert Kirkman's best-selling zombie story that was adapted by AMC and Frank Darabont for television last year. Dark Horse Comics also had a strong June, with Buffy the Vampire Slayer Volume 8: Last Gleaming as the month's number two graphic novel.
In June, DC Direct released the JLA Classic Icons Series 1 Action Figures, a series of dynamic figures of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern, giving the manufacturer the best-selling Toy product to comics retailers for the month. June was a strong month for Toy sales overall, with sales in that category increasing by over 135% over May's sales.
In anticipation of the theatrical release of Captain America: The First Avenger, WizKids/NECA released the Marvel HeroClix: Captain America Expansion, bringing the star-spangled Avenger to the popular miniatures game, giving the manufacturer the best-selling Games product to comics retailers in June. Total sales on Games product fell slightly in June over May's sales with a 2.66% decline.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 39.32% | 43.04% |
DC COMICS | 28.03% | 33.17% |
IMAGE COMICS | 5.85% | 5.30% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 5.28% | 3.21% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 3.76% | 3.22% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 3.49% | 3.30% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.95% | 1.62% |
VIZ MEDIA | 1.36% | 0.58% |
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT | 0.95% | 1.03% |
ARCHIE COMICS | 0.79% | 1.00% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 9.22% | 4.52% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
JUNE 2011 VS. MAY 2011 | ||
COMICS | 18.31% | 20.26% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 16.45% | 10.63% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 17.67% | 19.37% |
JUNE 2011 VS. JUNE 2010 | ||
COMICS | -4.62% | -1.43% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -8.15% | -13.86% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -5.85% | -2.63% |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2011 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2010 | ||
COMICS | -7.78% | -7.47% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -5.97% | -10.63% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -7.19% | -7.74% |
SECOND QUARTER 2011 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2011 | ||
COMICS | 8.41% | 6.90% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 13.75% | 14.41% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 10.14% | 7.50% |
SECOND QUARTER 2011 VS. SECOND QUARTER 2010 | ||
COMICS | -7.04% | -6.92% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -4.82% | -8.20% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -6.31% | -7.03% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #160 | $3.99 | APR110569-M | MAR |
2 | FEAR ITSELF #3 | $3.99 | APR110534-M | MAR |
3 | FLASHPOINT #2 | $3.99 | APR110101-M | DC |
4 | AVENGERS #14 | $3.99 | APR110539 | MAR |
5 | FF #5 | $2.99 | APR110612-M | MAR |
6 | NEW AVENGERS #13 | $3.99 | APR110574 | MAR |
7 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #663 | $3.99 | APR110595 | MAR |
8 | BATMAN INCORPORATED #7 | $2.99 | MAR110294-M | DC |
9 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #24 | $2.99 | APR110159-M | DC |
10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #664 | $3.99 | APR110597 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 14: NO WAY OUT TP | $14.99 | APR110444 | IMA |
2 | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 8 VOLUME 8: LAST GLEAMING TP | $16.99 | FEB110018 | DAR |
3 | NARUTO VOLUME 51 TP | $9.99 | MAR111299 | VIZ |
4 | GREEN LANTERN: BRIGHTEST DAY HC | $22.99 | FEB110200 | DC |
5 | BATWOMAN VOLUME 1: ELEGY TP | $17.99 | MAR110341 | DC |
6 | SWEET TOOTH VOLUME 3: ANIMAL ARMIES TP | $14.99 | MAR110392 | DC |
7 | THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP | $9.99 | JUL068351 | IMA |
8 | ARKHAM ASYLUM: MADNESS TP | $14.99 | MAR110344 | DC |
9 | X-MEN: SECOND COMING TP | $34.99 | APR110694 | MAR |
10 | THE DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER: THE LITTLE SISTERS OF ELURIA HC | $24.99 | APR110707 | MAR |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | JLA CLASSIC ICONS SERIES 1 ACTION FIGURES | OCT100348 | DC |
2 | BRIGHTEST DAY SERIES 1 ACTION FIGURES | AUG100284 | DC |
3 | MARVEL SELECT: BEST OF SERIES 5 ACTION FIGURES | JAN111644 | DST |
4 | WORLD OF WARCRAFT PREMIUM SERIES 3 ACTION FIGURES | MAR100366 | DC |
5 | MARVEL SELECT: GAMBIT ACTION FIGURES | OCT101482 | DST |
6 | WONDER WOMAN #600 STATUE | OCT100341 | DC |
7 | COVER GIRLS OF THE DCU: WONDER WOMAN ARMORED STATUE | SEP100334 | DC |
8 | WOMEN OF THE DCU SERIES 3: HARLEY QUINN BUST | SEP100332 | DC |
9 | M.O.D.O.K. PREVIEWS EXCLUSIVE STATUE | SEP108144 | BOW |
10 | MARVEL SELECT: JUGGERNAUT ACTION FIGURE | JUN101512 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: CAPTAIN AMERICA EXPANSION | APR112105 | NEC |
2 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: 5DS CROW DUELIST PACK | APR112069 | KON |
3 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: COMMANDER MULTI-PLAYER GAME SET | APR112102 | WIZ |
4 | GODZILLA: KAIJU WARS BOARD GAME | MAR112025 | TOY |
5 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: NEW PHYREXIA EVENT DECKS | MAR112032 | WIZ |
6 | STAR TREK EXPEDITIONS BOARD GAME | FEB111880 | NEC |
7 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: NEW PHYREXIA BOOSTER PACKS | MAR112030 | WIZ |
8 | REDAKAI TCG HOBBY STRUCTURED DECKS | APR112084 | SPI |
9 | DC HEROCLIX: GREEN LANTERN 2011 FAST FORCES 6-PACK | MAR112034 | NEC |
10 | REDAKAI TCG HOBBY GOLD PACKS | APR112083 | SPI |
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.