Diamond just released their top sellers for November, and nothing was amiss, as much ballyhooed launches for Uncanny X-men, Green Lantern and Venom led the way. Venom got a surprising movie bump with the first collection of Donny Cates’ run topping the graphic novel charts in units.
Marvel led DC comfortably – no one has really been talking about it after the disasters of 2017, but Marvel seems to have stabilized quite a bit, bringing back strong #1s of characters people like reading. Look for Ironheart #1 to do well for December sales, as well. Getting some juice from the Venom movie is a nice bonus. Heck, a Black Panther Little Golden Book was the #2 book for the month. Those movies are selling books.
DC had a good launch with The Green Lantern, but there’s only one Grant Morrison, and if the rumors I’m hearing are true, 2019 should be the year everyone starts worrying more about DC. But more about that later.
Still, it was a blah month overall, and 2018 will be a blah year. John Jackson Miller points out that it was a puny month, with 121 fewer titles shipping in November than in October. He also notes:
It was Marvel’s smallest new comics slate since October 2015. DC shipped 67 comics, down from 95 last November. Fully 22% fewer new comics out. The bright side is that even with so much less material out, Marvel was still up slightly year-over-year versus last November.
The graphic novel category was worse off — there, the dynamic also looks supply-side, as publishers appear to be increasingly trying to get retailers to stock for the holidays in October.
Six percent fewer comics have come out in 2018 so far; unit sales are down 6%. Pretty direct connection there. Since comics dollar sales are slightly up — and 2017’s unit sales were inflated by overships and 25¢ books — the comics that did come out did a little better relative, per issue, than last year.
Thogh the ^5 drop may be explained by fewer comics, graphic novels are down 6-7% for the year, and that’s a troubling trend. 2018 held its own but it still didn’t quite have the kind of break out hit that makes everyone stand up and cheer.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS |
40.80% |
43.75% |
DC ENTERTAINMENT |
26.74% |
29.51% |
IMAGE COMICS |
8.57% |
8.50% |
IDW PUBLISHING |
3.62% |
3.39% |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
3.37% |
2.58% |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.95% |
2.49% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
2.24% |
2.11% |
VIZ MEDIA |
1.26% |
0.48% |
TITAN COMICS |
1.20% |
0.80% |
ONI PRESS INC. |
0.97% |
0.80% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
8.28% |
5.58% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
NOVEMBER 2018 VS. OCTOBER 2018 |
||
COMICS |
-16.49% |
-19.71% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-21.10% |
-23.49% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-17.81% |
-19.99% |
TOYS |
6.76% |
-23.81% |
NOVEMBER 2018 VS. NOVEMBER 2017 |
||
COMICS |
-4.98% |
-11.24% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-30.36% |
-31.11% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-13.61% |
-13.02% |
TOYS |
-10.88% |
-19.52% |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017 |
||
COMICS |
1.48% |
-6.06% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-6.67% |
-7.25% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-0.98% |
-6.15% |
TOYS |
-3.25% |
-3.25% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
MARVEL COMICS |
79 |
39 |
0 |
118 |
DC COMICS |
67 |
40 |
0 |
107 |
IMAGE COMICS |
57 |
18 |
0 |
75 |
IDW PUBLISHING |
33 |
14 |
0 |
47 |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
23 |
16 |
0 |
39 |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
16 |
19 |
0 |
35 |
TITAN COMICS |
10 |
13 |
5 |
28 |
VIZ MEDIA LLC |
0 |
26 |
0 |
26 |
DYNAMITE |
17 |
4 |
0 |
21 |
ONI PRESS INC. |
8 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
113 |
206 |
17 |
336 |
TOTAL |
423 |
399 |
22 |
844 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
UNCANNY X-MEN #1 |
$7.99 |
SEP180791-M | MAR |
2 |
THE GREEN LANTERN #1 |
$4.99 |
SEP180430-M | DC |
3 |
WEB OF VENOM: CARNAGE BORN #1 |
$4.99 |
SEP180855-M | MAR |
4 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #10 |
$3.99 |
SEP180916-M | MAR |
5 |
BATMAN #58 |
$3.99 |
SEP180450-M | DC |
6 |
BATMAN #59 |
$3.99 |
SEP180452-M | DC |
7 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9 |
$3.99 |
SEP180914-M | MAR |
8 |
HEROES IN CRISIS #3 |
$3.99 |
SEP180434-M | DC |
9 |
AVENGERS #10 |
$5.99 |
SEP180829-M | MAR |
10 |
VENOM #8 |
$3.99 |
SEP180918-M | MAR |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
UNCANNY X-MEN #1 |
$7.99 |
SEP180791-M | MAR |
2 |
WEB OF VENOM: CARNAGE BORN #1 |
$4.99 |
SEP180855-M | MAR |
3 |
THE GREEN LANTERN #1 |
$4.99 |
SEP180430-M | DC |
4 |
AVENGERS #10 |
$5.99 |
SEP180829-M | MAR |
5 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #10 |
$3.99 |
SEP180916-M | MAR |
6 |
BATMAN #58 |
$3.99 |
SEP180450-M | DC |
7 |
BATMAN #59 |
$3.99 |
SEP180452-M | DC |
8 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9 |
$3.99 |
SEP180914-M | MAR |
9 |
HEROES IN CRISIS #3 |
$3.99 |
SEP180434-M | DC |
10 |
VENOM #8 |
$3.99 |
SEP180918-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOLUME 1: REX TP |
$17.99 |
AUG181081 | MAR |
2 |
THANOS: THE INFINITY CONFLICT HC |
$24.99 |
AUG181076 | MAR |
3 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: THE TOTALITY TP |
$17.99 |
AUG180630 | DC |
4 |
BLACK EYED PEAS PRESENTS: MASTERS OF THE SUN: THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES TP |
$24.99 |
APR171143 | MAR |
5 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY NICK SPENCER VOLUME 1: BACK TO BASICS TP |
$15.99 |
SEP181008 | MAR |
6 |
THE IMMORTAL HULK VOLUME 1: OR IS HE BOTH? TP |
$15.99 |
AUG181082 | MAR |
7 |
BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT TP |
$19.99 |
JUL180733 | DC |
8 |
UNNATURAL VOLUME 1: AWAKENING TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
SEP180132 | IMA |
9 |
STAR WARS: LANDO: DOUBLE OR NOTHING TP |
$15.99 |
JUL181171 | MAR |
10 |
DOMINO VOLUME 1: KILLER INSTINCT TP |
$17.99 |
AUG181085 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
X-MEN MUTANT: MASSACRE OMNIBUS HC |
$100.00 |
MAY180951 | MAR |
2 |
THANOS: THE INFINITY CONFLICT HC |
$24.99 |
AUG181076 | MAR |
3 |
ABSOLUTE TRANSMETROPOLITAN VOLUME 3 HC (MR) |
$125.00 |
MAR180362 | DC |
4 |
SILVER SURFER BY SLOTT AND ALLRED OMNIBUS HC |
$75.00 |
MAY180954 | MAR |
5 |
BLACK EYED PEAS PRESENTS: MASTERS OF THE SUN: THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES TP |
$24.99 |
APR171143 | MAR |
6 |
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOLUME 1: REX TP |
$17.99 |
AUG181081 | MAR |
7 |
FIREFLY: BIG DAMN HEROES BOX SET |
$150.00 |
SEP181294 | BOO |
8 |
WONDER WOMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 3 HC |
$125.00 |
APR180285 | DC |
9 |
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE MIGHTY THOR VOLUME 17 HC |
$75.00 |
MAY180957-M | MAR |
10 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: THE TOTALITY TP |
$17.99 |
AUG180630 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD: CREATING A CHAMPION HC |
$39.99 |
JUL180425 | DAR |
2 |
BLACK PANTHER LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK |
$4.99 |
NOV172179 | GOL |
3 |
GIGER HC |
$15.00 |
SEP181990 | TAS |
4 |
ART MATTERS: BECAUSE YOUR IMAGINATION CAN CHANGE WORLD |
$19.99 |
OCT182016 | WIL |
5 |
DARK SOULS III DESIGN WORKS HC |
$49.99 |
JUN182173 | UDO |
6 |
SPECTRUM ART BOOK 25 SC |
$35.00 |
SEP181796 | FLE |
7 |
FIREFLY: BIG DAMN HERO HC |
$22.95 |
AUG182286 | TTN |
8 |
GHOSTBUSTERS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK |
$4.99 |
JUL162266 | GOL |
9 |
FINAL FANTASY VII: ON THE WAY TO A SMILE SC |
$14.00 |
AUG182452 | YEN |
10 |
MARVEL STUDIOS: THE FIRST 10 YEARS HC |
$24.99 |
SEP182051 | TTN |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: BATMAN & CATWOMAN STATUE | MAY180613 | DC |
2 |
BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS STATUE | MAY180609 | DC |
3 |
MARVEL GALLERY: VENOM COMIC PVC FIGURE | MAY182304 | DST |
4 |
MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: DR. STRANGE PVC FIGURE | AUG178008 | DST |
5 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD: GUARDIAN NENDOROID | JAN188701 | GOO |
6 |
EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN: ASH WILLIAMS BISHOUJO STATUE | MAY182647 | KOT |
7 |
MARVEL UNIVERSE: BLACK PANTHER ARTFX+ STATUE | MAY182646 | KOT |
8 |
MARVEL GALLERY: BLACK PANTHER MOVIE (VER. 2) PVC FIGURE | MAY182305 | DST |
9 |
MARVEL SELECT: JUGGERNAUT FIGURE | JUN101512 | DST |
10 |
DC COVER GIRLS: CATWOMAN BY JOELLE JONES STATUE | MAY180610 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
MY HERO ACADEMIA CARD GAME | JUL183082 | SHI |
2 |
MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: GUILDS OF RAVNICA BOOSTERS | AUG183192 | WIZ |
3 |
D&D ICONS OF THE REALM SET 10 | AUG183199 | NEC |
4 |
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES: GOTHAM UNDER SIEGE GAME | JUN180756 | IDW |
5 |
RISK RICK & MORTY BOARD GAME | OCT182927 | USA |
6 |
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MUNCHKIN | MAY180770 | IDW |
7 |
PATHFINDER BATTLES: KINGMAKER BOOSTER BRICK | AUG183201 | NEC |
8 |
RICK AND MORTY DBG: THE RICKSHANK RICKDEMPTION | MAY188741 | PSI |
9 |
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDYS MONOPOLY BOARD GAME | SEP182828 | USA |
10 |
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS RPG: WATERDEEP DRAGON HEIST HC | AUG183190 | WIZ |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
3 observations: 1) There is some noticeable slippage in the Batman sales. 2) No wonder comic prices are edging upward when you see that dollars are up double units are down. 3) That Silver Surfer omnibus is worth every penny. Just got my copy this week.
The full Comichron analysis (and link to our explanatory video) is up at http://blog.comichron.com/2018/12/november-comics-orders-down-on-smallest.html
Sorry. That should have read, “dollars are up while units are down.”
The second and third issues of Uncanny X-Men (also published in November), dropping straight out of the Top 10, don’t bode well for this latest relaunch. Did retailers guess that readers (beyond first issue speculators) would be scared off by the very expensive #1 ?
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