Media Release -- Five X-Men with the power of the Phoenix have begun to reshape the Earth in their image and the Avengers make plans against them in Marvel Comics' Avengers Vs. X-Men #6, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in June 2012, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
June saw a split decision in market share, with Marvel Comics edging DC Entertainment for the top publisher in Retail Dollars 33.77% to 33.03%, while DC Entertainment edged Marvel Comics on Unit Share 38.23% to 37.82%.
Rick Grimes and his band of survivors of the zombie apocalypse continue their quest for safety and civilization in Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 16: A Larger World, the latest collection of the best-selling series from Image Comics and June's best-selling graphic novel.
Comics sales for the first half of 2012 showed an increase of 20.47% over the first half of 2012, and graphic novel sales increased by 13.49% in the same period. Compared to sales in the first quarter of 2012, comics sales increased by 16.79% and graphic novels by 23.91%, continuing the year's upward sales trend.
Based on this summer's new film, the Marvel Select Toys: Amazing Spider-Man Movie Figure from Diamond Select Toys presented Andrew Garfield's cinematic wallcrawler in a detailed sculpt and was June's best-selling Toy product to comics retailers.
WizKids/NECA's DC HeroClix: TDKR Boosters were the best-selling Games product to specialty retailers in June.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 33.77% | 37.82% |
DC ENTERTAINMENT | 33.03% | 38.23% |
IMAGE COMICS | 7.36% | 6.45% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 6.22% | 4.16% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.51% | 3.49% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.82% | 2.35% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.25% | 1.49% |
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD | 1.21% | 0.28% |
AVATAR PRESS INC | 0.84% | 0.87% |
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS | 0.83% | 0.32% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.16% | 4.55% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
JUNE 2012 VS. MAY 2012 | ||
COMICS | -6.28% | -6.50% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -15.42% | -14.72% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -9.35% | -7.16% |
JUNE 2012 VS. JUNE 2011 | ||
COMICS | 14.97% | 12.14% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 2.51% | -3.66% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 10.74% | 10.79% |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2011(FIRST HALF 2012 VS. FIRST HALF 2011) | ||
COMICS | 20.47% | 19.21% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 13.49% | 9.53% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 18.16% | 18.40% |
SECOND QUARTER 2012 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2012 | ||
COMICS | 16.79% | 14.86% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 23.81% | 18.98% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 18.97% | 15.18% |
SECOND QUARTER 2012 VS. SECOND QUARTER 2011 | ||
COMICS | 15.81% | 23.34% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 23.33% | 11.53% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 18.14% | 22.33% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #6 | $3.99 | APR120575 | MAR |
2 | AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #5 | $3.99 | APR120569 | MAR |
3 | BATMAN #10 | $3.99 | APR120193 | DC |
4 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #10 | $3.99 | APR120161 | DC |
5 | BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN #1 (MR) | $3.99 | APR120137 | DC |
6 | BEFORE WATCHMEN: COMEDIAN #1 (MR) | $3.99 | APR120149 | DC |
7 | BEFORE WATCHMEN: SILK SPECTRE #1 (MR) | $3.99 | APR120143 | DC |
8 | BEFORE WATCHMEN: NITE OWL #1 (MR) | $3.99 | APR120155 | DC |
9 | SPIDER-MEN #1 | $3.99 | APR120603 | MAR |
10 | AVX VS #3 | $3.99 | APR120567 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 16: A LARGER WORLD TP (MR) | $14.99 | APR120487 | IMA |
2 | LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN III: CENTURY #3: 2009 (MR) | $9.95 | APR121232 | TOP |
3 | WATCHMEN TP | $19.99 | FEB058406 | DC |
4 | THE BOYS VOLUME 11: OVER THE HILL WITH THE SWORDS OF A THOUSAND MEN TP | $19.99 | APR121021 | DE |
5 | BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOLUME 1: FACES OF DEATH HC | $22.99 | FEB120245 | DC |
6 | FATALE VOLUME 1: DEATH CHASES ME TP (MR) | $14.99 | APR120439 | IMA |
7 | BATWOMAN VOLUME 1: HYDROLOGY HC | $22.99 | FEB120246 | DC |
8 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP | $9.99 | JUL068351 | IMA |
9 | DMZ VOLUME 12: THE FIVE NATIONS OF NEWYORK TP (MR) | $14.99 | MAR120276 | DC |
10 | MORNING GLORIES VOLUME 3: P.E. TP | $14.99 | APR120451 | IMA |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | MARVEL SELECT: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN MOVIE FIGURE | FEB121518 | DST |
2 | MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS MOVIE: IRON MAN MK VI FIG. | MAR121601 | DST |
3 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY: KILLER CROC DELUXE FIGURE | MAR120306 | DC |
4 | MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS MOVIE HAWKEYE FIGURE | DEC111598 | DST |
5 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY: MR. FREEZE DELUXE FIGURE | MAR120304 | DC |
6 | MARVEL SELECT: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN MOVIE:LIZARD FIGURE | FEB121520 | DST |
7 | JUSTICE LEAGUE: BATMAN ACTION FIGURE WAVE 2 | APR128194 | DC |
8 | THE DARK KNIGHT RISES: BATMAN 1/6-SCALE ICON STATUE | MAR120298 | DC |
9 | BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE STATUE: NEW 52 BY JIM LEE | FEB120310 | DC |
10 | CAPTAIN AMERICA: CLASSIC AVENGERS FINE ART STATUE | NOV111607 | KOT |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | DC HEROCLIX: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES BOOSTERS | APR121981 | NEC |
2 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: CHAOS WAR | APR121986 | NEC |
3 | DC HEROCLIX: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES STARTER SET | APR121983 | NEC |
4 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: GIANT SIZE X-MEN: UNCANNY X-MEN FAST FORCES 6-PACK | MAR121894 | NEC |
5 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: GALACTIC GUARDIANS BOOSTER BRICK | FEB121832 | NEC |
6 | DC HEROCLIX: WAR OF LIGHT FAST FORCES 6-PACK | MAR121891 | NEC |
7 | SPIDER-MAN COLLECTOR’S EDITION MONOPOLY | MAR121886 | USA |
8 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: GOLD SERIES HAUNTED MINE | FEB128275 | KON |
9 | LOCKE & KEY: THE CARD GAME | MAR120358 | IDW |
10 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: AVACYN RESTORED BOOSTER PACKS | FEB121827 | WIZ |
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.