Everything was coming up Action #1000 for DC in April, as it led Diamond’s just released sales charts, however sales in general weresharply up from March, and even from last April. As previously announced, Action #1000 was announced as having over 500,000 sales, so that alone helped raise the boat quite a bit.
It wasn’t just DC that led the way: Marvel had six comics in the top ten, including three #1s – led by Dan Slott and Stuart Immonen’s Amazing Spider-Man #798 at #2, followed by Amazing Spider-Man #799, Hunt for Wolverine #1, Venomized #1, Domino #1 and Captain America #700. .
Indeed, comics periodical sales for the year are down a slim 1.51% from 2017. Could we be coming out of the slump? Are coming going to live after all?
The special Superman 80 year collection was the top GN, followed by Paper Girls Vol. 4. GN sales were flat from a year ago, ut still down 10% in units year to date.
And the original Infinity Gauntlet charts in both dollars and units, no surprise.
All the charts below, we’ll update when John Jackson Miller explains what happened.
UPDATE: For those who like such things, JJM has an explanatory video as well as a post. Short version: It was a good month!
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS |
37.59% |
42.21% |
DC ENTERTAINMENT |
32.39% |
33.02% |
IMAGE COMICS |
9.16% |
9.47% |
IDW PUBLISHING |
4.08% |
3.67% |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
2.36% |
1.79% |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.20% |
1.72% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
1.60% |
1.29% |
VIZ MEDIA |
1.19% |
0.48% |
ONI PRESS |
1.13% |
0.61% |
TITAN COMICS |
0.73% |
0.55% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
7.57% |
5.20% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
APRIL 2018 VS. MARCH 2018 |
||
COMICS |
20.64% |
12.39% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
15.40% |
24.13% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
19.13% |
13.20% |
TOYS |
-19.63% |
-16.16% |
APRIL 2018 VS. APRIL 2017 |
||
COMICS |
15.67% |
4.11% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
0.72% |
-1.79% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
11.08% |
3.64% |
TOYS |
3.47% |
-14.60% |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017 |
||
COMICS |
-1.51% |
-10.12% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-9.68% |
-9.53% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-3.97% |
-10.08% |
TOYS |
-7.30% |
-12.84% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
MARVEL COMICS |
86 |
37 |
0 |
123 |
DC ENTERTAINMENT |
81 |
30 |
1 |
112 |
IMAGE COMICS |
62 |
22 |
0 |
84 |
IDW PUBLISHING |
47 |
19 |
0 |
66 |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
23 |
14 |
0 |
37 |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
16 |
10 |
0 |
26 |
TITAN COMICS |
13 |
8 |
1 |
22 |
VIZ MEDIA |
0 |
22 |
0 |
22 |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
16 |
5 |
0 |
21 |
ONI PRESS |
3 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
131 |
180 |
19 |
330 |
TOTAL |
478 |
351 |
21 |
850 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
ACTION COMICS #1000 |
$7.99 |
FEB180142-M | DC |
2 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #798 |
$3.99 |
FEB180830-M | MAR |
3 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #799 |
$3.99 |
FEB180834-M | MAR |
4 |
HUNT FOR WOLVERINE #1 |
$5.99 |
FEB180745-M | MAR |
5 |
BATMAN #44 |
$2.99 |
FEB180164-M | DC |
6 |
VENOMIZED #1 |
$4.99 |
FEB180796-M | MAR |
7 |
BATMAN #45 |
$2.99 |
FEB180166-M | DC |
8 |
DOMINO #1 |
$3.99 |
FEB180770-M | MAR |
9 |
CAPTAIN AMERICA #700 |
$5.99 |
FEB180754-M | MAR |
10 |
THE WALKING DEAD #178 (MR) |
$3.99 |
FEB180713-M | IMA |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
ACTION COMICS #1000 |
$7.99 |
FEB180142-M | DC |
2 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #798 |
$3.99 |
FEB180830-M | MAR |
3 |
HUNT FOR WOLVERINE #1 |
$5.99 |
FEB180745-M | MAR |
4 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #799 |
$3.99 |
FEB180834-M | MAR |
5 |
VENOMIZED #1 |
$4.99 |
FEB180796-M | MAR |
6 |
CAPTAIN AMERICA #700 |
$5.99 |
FEB180754-M | MAR |
7 |
DOMINO #1 |
$3.99 |
FEB180770-M | MAR |
8 |
BATMAN #44 |
$2.99 |
FEB180164-M | DC |
9 |
INFINITY COUNTDOWN #2 |
$4.99 |
FEB180740-M | MAR |
10 |
THE WALKING DEAD #178 (MR) |
$3.99 |
FEB180713-M | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
ACTION COMICS: 80 YEARS OF SUPERMAN HC |
$29.99 |
DEC170241 | DC |
2 |
PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 4 TP |
$14.99 |
FEB180663 | IMA |
3 |
THANOS: THE INFINITY SIBLINGS OGN HC |
$24.99 |
DEC170936 | MAR |
4 |
SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
AUG120491 | IMA |
5 |
BATMAN VOL. 5: RULES OF ENGAGEMENT TP |
$16.99 |
JAN180382 | DC |
6 |
THE INFINITY GAUNTLET TP |
$24.99 |
JUL110745 | MAR |
7 |
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER VOL. 2: LEGACY’S END TP |
$17.99 |
JAN181040 | MAR |
8 |
SAGA VOLUME 8 TP (MR) |
$14.99 |
OCT170715 | IMA |
9 |
PHOENIX RESURRECTION: THE RETURN OF JEAN GREY TP |
$17.99 |
JAN181041-M | MAR |
10 |
PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 1 TP |
$9.99 |
JAN160645 | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
ACTION COMICS: 80 YEARS OF SUPERMAN HC |
$29.99 |
DEC170241 | DC |
2 |
PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 4 TP |
$14.99 |
FEB180663 | IMA |
3 |
THANOS: THE INFINITY SIBLINGS OGN HC |
$24.99 |
DEC170936 | MAR |
4 |
THE INFINITY GAUNTLET TP |
$24.99 |
JUL110745 | MAR |
5 |
X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN TP |
$29.99 |
DEC170935 | MAR |
6 |
BATMAN VOL. 5: RULES OF ENGAGEMENT TP |
$16.99 |
JAN180382 | DC |
7 |
HARLEY QUINN & THE GOTHAM CITY SIRENS OMNIBUS HC |
$75.00 |
OCT170369 | DC |
8 |
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: AVENGERS VOLUME 18 HC |
$75.00 |
OCT170990-M | MAR |
9 |
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER VOL. 2: LEGACY’S END TP |
$17.99 |
JAN181040 | MAR |
10 |
SUPERMAN: EXILE AND OTHER STORIES OMNIBUS HC |
$125.00 |
OCT170379 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
MOEBIUS LIBRARY: ART OF EDENA HC |
$34.99 |
MAY170010 | DAR |
2 |
BE PREPARED GN |
$12.99 |
FEB181570 | STM |
3 |
THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 128 SC |
$14.95 |
JAN182170 | SAN |
4 |
STAR TREK: LIGHT & SOUND TRICORDER KIT |
$12.95 |
FEB182114 | HAC |
5 |
STAR TREK: LIGHT & SOUND BORG CUBE KIT |
$12.95 |
FEB182113 | HAC |
6 |
POWER RANGERS ARTIST TRIBUTE HC |
$24.99 |
NOV171318 | BOO |
7 |
HARRY POTTER: TALKING DOBBY WITH BOOK KIT |
$12.95 |
FEB182109 | HAC |
8 |
THE ART OF GOD OF WAR HC |
$39.99 |
OCT178150 | DAR |
9 |
LITTLE BOOK OF BATMAN FLEXICOVER |
$10.00 |
FEB182054 | TAS |
10 |
POKEMON SEEK & FIND: LEGENDARY POKEMON HC |
$9.99 |
FEB181955 | VIZ |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
PACIFIC RIM UPRISING SELECT ACTION FIGURES SERIES 1 | AUG178888 | DST |
2 |
DC: SUPERGIRL RETURNS BISHOUJO STATUE | JUL178830 | KOT |
3 |
DEADPOOL LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES | JUL178751 | HAS |
4 |
MARVEL SELECT: THOR RAGNAROK: GLADIATOR THOR FIGURE | JUL172802 | DST |
5 |
AVENGERS LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES | JUL178781 | HAS |
6 |
DRAGONBALL Z SCULTURES: SON GOKU SPECIAL COLOR FIGURE | JAN178942 | BAN |
7 |
ONE PIECE SCULTURES: BIG ZOUKEIO SHINING ZORO FIGURE | JAN178948 | BAN |
8 |
DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: GREEN LANTERN JESSICA CRUZ STATUE | OCT170394 | DC |
9 |
KINGDOM HEARTS 3: SORA 2ND FORM BRING ARTS FIGURE | SEP178239 | SQU |
10 |
HARLEY QUINN: RED WHITE & BLACK STATUE BY BABS TARR | OCT170395 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
DARK SOULS CARD GAME | NOV178550 | STE |
2 |
STRANGER THINGS MONOPOLY | NOV178199 | HAS |
3 |
DARK SOULS BOARD GAME | OCT178117 | STE |
4 |
DRAGON BALL Z: PERFECT CELL GAME | FEB180490 | IDW |
5 |
RICK AND MORTY MUNCHKIN | JAN182866 | USA |
6 |
STRANGER THINGS: OUIJA GAME | NOV178196 | HAS |
7 |
THE X-FILES: CONSPIRACY THEORY GAME | FEB180491 | IDW |
8 |
VAMPIRELLA TAROT CARDS SET | AUG171626 | DE |
9 |
STARFINDER RPG: PACT WORLDS HC | JAN182863 | PAI |
10 |
STRANGER THINGS: SCREEN TEST GAME | NOV178198 | HAS |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which includes the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from sales made to thousands of comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. Additional sales made to online merchants and other specialty retailers may be included as well.
Unit and dollar market shares are calculated based upon orders for comic books, graphic novels, and magazines invoiced and shipped to Diamond customers during any given month, which comprises 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.
The New Titles Count Chart includes all titles that were invoiced by Diamond to retailers for the first time during the month and is not the official solicited title count for the month. Variant edition comic books and graphic novels at the same price point count as a single SKU. Variant edition comic books, lenticular covers, digital combo packs, and graphic novels at different price points count as separate SKUs for each edition
My post is at http://blog.comichron.com/2018/05/action-1000-infinity-war-tie-ins-power.html
Also, I have a video walkthrough of the preliminary charts for the month: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSMWQwECniE&feature=youtu.be
How does Venomized 1 end up in the 90,000+ unit range? It’s like the third mini series telling the ongoing Venomverse crossover storyline, and the sentiment generally seems to have been lukewarm on that storyline so far.
I can contribute that it appeared several times in the advance reorder charts, and led them one week. So it wasn’t a huge surprise to see.
So what does this mean?
“Are coming going to live after all?”
And what is ut?
“GN sales were flat from a year ago, ut still down 10% in units year to date.”
This needs an editor…
Things still look pretty bleak. There’s only going to be one Action #1000. Detective will have an #1000 book too, but after that . . .
The numbering stunt on Cap will have no effect next month. Nobody will care about Domino. Hunt for Wolverine got awful reviews.
I know DC is really banking on Benids, but there’s two problems with that:
1. Bendis hasn’t sold big in a while.
2. Bendis hasn’t written anything good in a while.
My article suggests that dismissing comics as outliers isn’t the soundest practice in terms of judging industry health. There was $46 million (or rather, whatever the equivalent was in wholesale prices) to be spent in the industry on products, whatever they happened to be — and while there won’t be another Action #1000, that book’s contribution to retail coffers would presumably be reflected in some manner in purchases two and three months down the road. Not all hit issues spark a “virtuous cycle,” but they’re more likely to happen than in than in markets where there are no hit comics.
“1. Bendis hasn’t sold big in a while.
2. Bendis hasn’t written anything good in a while.”
Skip, you may be right that this move won’t work out, who’s to say really at this early a juncture?…but to these two above points…I could be mis-remembering, but his X-Men was the last time I can recall that franchise gracing the top 10 (do feel free to correct me if I’m off there, I’m too hazy on the specifics and too lazy to look them up). I’m not sure anyone can make Iron Man comics a big seller.
As to the quality…well…that’s subjective, but what I read of his Doom as Iron Man comic was fun. And I can’t recall many complaints about his long run with Miles Morales Spider-Man.
“I can’t recall many complaints”
Maybe try paying attention? Making excuses for his weak numbers – oh nobody can sell Iron Man, oh X-Men numbers have sank since (how about because of) Bendis – only strengthens my points.
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