Media Release -- In the aftermath of Avengers Vs. X-Men, Captain America forms a new team comprised of Avengers and X-Men in Rick Remender and John Cassaday's Uncanny Avengers #1 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in October 2012, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics was October's leading publisher in both Retail Dollars and Unit Market Share, leading DC Entertainment 35.14% to 31.51% in dollars and 39.54% to 34.40% in units.
Clark Kent struggles to establish himself in Metropolis, both as a reporter and as a hero, in October's best selling graphic novel, DC Comics' Superman: Earth One Volume 2, the sequel to J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis' best-selling Superman: Earth One graphic novel.
With his shield at the ready, Captain America leaps into action for Bowen Designs' Captain America Action Statue, the best-selling toy product to comic book specialty retailers in October.
Hasbro's Risk Legacy, an update of the venerable board game Risk with a gameplay mechanic that spans multiple games, returned to the top of the sales charts in October as the month's best-selling games product to comic book specialty retailers.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 35.14% | 39.54% |
DC COMICS | 31.51% | 34.40% |
IMAGE COMICS | 8.47% | 7.60% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 4.62% | 3.82% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.81% | 3.11% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.71% | 2.78% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.29% | 1.39% |
AVATAR PRESS INC | 1.26% | 1.04% |
RANDOM HOUSE | 1.19% | 0.25% |
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC | 1.03% | 1.03% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.96% | 5.04% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
OCTOBER 2012 VS. SEPTEMBER 2012 | ||
COMICS | 20.02% | 16.15% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 24.41% | 13.11% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 21.45% | 15.90% |
OCTOBER 2012 VS. OCTOBER 2011 | ||
COMICS | 7.44% | -0.82% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 53.87% | 52.85% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 19.50% | 2.11% |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2011 | ||
COMICS | 15.89% | 12.31% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 17.97% | 17.10% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 16.55% | 12.68% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 | $3.99 | AUG120550 | MAR |
2 | AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #12 | $4.99 | JUL120535 | MAR |
3 | BATMAN #13 | $3.99 | AUG120180 | DC |
4 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #13 | $3.99 | AUG120146 | DC |
5 | A PLUS X #1 | $3.99 | AUG120562 | MAR |
6 | GREEN LANTERN #13 | $2.99 | AUG120199 | DC |
7 | DETECTIVE COMICS #13 | $3.99 | AUG120184 | DC |
8 | AVX VS. #6 | $3.99 | JUL120526 | MAR |
9 | WALKING DEAD #103 (MR) | $2.99 | AUG120472 | IMA |
10 | AVX: CONSEQUENCES #1 | $3.99 | AUG120569 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE VOLUME 2 HC | $22.99 | JUN120225 | DC |
2 | SAGA VOLUME 1 TP | $9.99 | AUG120491 | IMA |
3 | THE WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM VOL. 2 TP | $59.99 | AUG120496 | IMA |
4 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP | $9.99 | JUL068351 | IMA |
5 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHIND US TP | $14.99 | SEP088204 | IMA |
6 | BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOLUME 1: KNIGHT TERRORS HC | $24.99 | JUN120234 | DC |
7 | DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE TP | $14.99 | AUG120709 | MAR |
8 | NIGHTWING VOL. 1: TRAPS AND TRAPEZES TP | $14.99 | JUL120214 | DC |
9 | V FOR VENDETTA: BOOK AND MASK SET | $24.99 | JUN120291 | DC |
10 | BATMAN VOL. 1: THE COURT OF OWLS HC | $24.99 | JAN120300 | DC |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | CAPTAIN AMERICA ACTION STATUE | MAR121666 | BOW |
2 | THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: BATMAN VS. THE JOKER ARTFX STATUE | APR121799 | KOT |
3 | THE WALKING DEAD MINIMATES SERIES 1 | APR121687 | DST |
4 | MASS EFFECT 3 PLAY ARTS KAI: GARRUS VAKARIAN | JUN122004 | SQU |
5 | BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE: BATMAN BEYOND STATUE | AUG120312 | DC |
6 | BACK TO THE FUTURE: TIME MACHINE MARK I CAR | MAR094739 | DST |
7 | THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: SUPERMAN VS. BATMAN STATUE | AUG120309 | DC |
8 | CLASSIC WASP STATUE | JAN128256 | BOW |
9 | BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM DELUXE: TITAN JOKER FIGURE | JUL120272 | DC |
10 | DOCTOR WHO: ELEVENTH DOCTOR 1/6-SCALE FIGURE | JAN128153 | BIG |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | RISK: LEGACY | JUN118204 | HAS |
2 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RETURN TO RAVNICA BOOSTER PACKS | AUG122136 | WIZ |
3 | DC HEROCLIX: BATMAN PRIMER | AUG122141 | NEC |
4 | DOCTOR WHO MONOPOLY: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | AUG122147 | USA |
5 | ASSASSIN'S CREED HEROCLIX: BROTHERHOOD EXPANSION | AUG122140 | NEC |
6 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RETURN TO RAVNICA FAT PACKS | AUG122138 | WIZ |
7 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RETURN TO RAVNICA INTRO DECKS | AUG122139 | WIZ |
8 | YU-GI-OH TCG: LEGENDARY COLLECTION 3 YUGI'S WORLD | JUN128076 | KON |
9 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RETURN TO RAVNICA EVENT DECKS | AUG122137 | WIZ |
10 | MARVEL COMICS COLLECTOR'S EDITION MONOPOLY | JUL122175 | USA |
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.
Please note that comics marked with an asterisk have had their reported quantities reduced due to retailer returnability, and thus may rank lower on the charts than their actual sales would reflect.
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.