Media Release -- Nekron rose from the underworld to command his legion of Black Lanterns as their attack on the DC Universe continued in Blackest Night #5, the latest chapter of Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis' crossover event, giving DC Comics the best-selling comic book title for November 2009, based upon total unit sales to comic book specialty shops, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
Marvel Comics took the top publisher spot in November, leading in both the Unit Market and Dollar Shares categories, with a 41.93% Unit Market Share and a 37.85% Dollar Share for the month.
Image Comics collected their breakout hit of the summer, Chew, about a man with the unique ability to "see" the past of anything he eats, giving the publisher the best-selling graphic novel in November with Chew Volume 1.
DC Direct had the best-selling Toy product in November with the Cover Girls of the DCU: Black Canary Statue, based on stunning cover artwork from fan-favorite artist Adam Hughes. NECA/WizKids had the best-selling Game product to comics specialty shops with the Marvel HeroClix: Hammer of Thor Booster Packs which relaunched the best-selling HeroClix miniatures game.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | UNIT SHARE | DOLLAR SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 41.93% | 37.85% |
| DC COMICS | 34.78% | 31.71% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.99% | 5.51% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 3.66% | 3.84% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 2.82% | 3.29% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.55% | 2.75% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.64% | 1.75% |
| ARCHIE COMICS | 0.88% | 0.56% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0.76% | 1.59% |
| WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT | 0.55% | 0.60% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 5.43% | 10.57% |
TOP 10 COMICS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BLACKEST NIGHT #5 | $3.99 | SEP090092-M | DC |
| 2 | GREEN LANTERN #48 | $2.99 | SEP090096-M | DC |
| 3 | CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #4 | $3.99 | AUG090418-M | MAR |
| 4 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #6 | $2.99 | SEP090115-M | DC |
| 5 | JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #39 | $3.99 | SEP090107 | DC |
| 6 | ADVENTURE COMICS #4 | $3.99 | SEP090100-M | DC |
| 7 | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #42 | $2.99 | SEP090098-M | DC |
| 8 | NEW AVENGERS #59 | $3.99 | SEP090448 | MAR |
| 9 | FLASH REBIRTH #5 | $2.99 | JUN090180-M | DC |
| 10 | DARK AVENGERS #11 | $3.99 | SEP090419 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | CHEW VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | SEP090288 | IMA |
| 2 | THE BOYS VOLUME 5: HEROGASM TP (MR) | $19.99 | SEP090750 | DE |
| 3 | GREEN LANTERN: AGENT ORANGE HC | $19.99 | JUL090231 | DC |
| 4 | BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL HC | $19.99 | JUL090230 | DC |
| 5 | INCOGNITO TP (MR) | $18.99 | SEP090494 | MAR |
| 6 | DARK AVENGERS VOLUME 1: ASSEMBLE TP | $19.99 | SEP090526 | MAR |
| 7 | USAGI YOJIMBO: YOKAI HC | $14.95 | JUL090054 | DAR |
| 8 | ASTONISHING X-MEN VOLUME 5: GHOST BOX TP | $24.99 | SEP090530 | MAR |
| 9 | DEADPOOL CLASSIC VOLUME 3 TP | $29.99 | SEP090535 | MAR |
| 10 | MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 TP | $15.99 | SEP090541 | MAR |
TOP 10 TOYS & STATUES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | COVER GIRLS OF THE DCU: BLACK CANARY STATUE | APR090294 | DC |
| 2 | BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES | APR090298 | DC |
| 3 | HOT TOYS TERMINATOR: SALVATION T-600 1/6-SCALE FIG | MAY090272 | DC |
| 4 | STAR WARS: RALPH MCQUARRIE ACTION FIGURE SETS | MAR098174 | KEN |
| 5 | ZATANNA 1/6-SCALE DELUXE COLLECTOR FIGURE | APR090292 | DC |
| 6 | BATMAN FAMILY MULTI-PART STATUE PART 2 | APR090293 | DC |
| 7 | RETRO HULK GREEN STATUE | JUN091495 | BOW |
| 8 | METAL GEAR SOLID 4: SNAKE CROUCHING ULTRA-DETAIL FIGURE | DEC088094 | MED |
| 9 | WONDER WOMAN VS. ARES STATUE | MAY090274 | DC |
| 10 | STAR WARS: ULT. QUARTER-SCALE JEDI LUKE SKYWALKER FIGURE | FEB094876 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: HAMMER OF THOR BOOSTER PACKS | JUL098192 | NEC |
| 2 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: ZENDIKAR BOOSTER PACKS | AUG091778 | WIZ |
| 3 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: 5DS HIDDEN ARSENAL BOOSTER PACKS | AUG098050 | KON |
| 4 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: 2009 COLLECTIBLE TIN CASE WAVE 2 | SEP091600 | KON |
| 5 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: PREMIUM DECK SLIVERS PACKS | JUL098332 | WIZ |
| 6 | DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CMG: MONSTER MANUAL SAVAGE ENCOUNTERS PACK | SEP091643 | WIZ |
| 7 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: 5DS STARDUST OVERDRIVE BOOSTER PACKS | SEP091601 | KON |
| 8 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: SHARDS ALARA INTRO PACKS | MAY088381 | WIZ |
| 9 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: HAMMER OF THOR PROMO KIT | AUG098006 | NEC |
| 10 | DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: DRACONOMICON METALLIC DRAGONS | SEP091644 | 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 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.
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