The September sales slowdown that many have predicted based on DC and Marvel glitches was revealed in Diamond’s figures released earlier today. While the gap between Marvel and DC narrowed, Image had a strong month with 11% of the dollars and 12% of the units. The lack of Secret Wars and late shipping seems to have hurt Marvel, but Star Wars was there to fill the void.
The good news is that graphic novels are continuing strong. Direct comparison are difficult because September was a five Wednesday month, but Q3 2015 was down from both Q2 2015 and Q3 2014. John Jackson Miller has more analysis at Comichron:
Comics dollar orders were down 19.6% year-to-year and graphic novel orders were up 12.5%, netting out to an overall drop of 10.7%. This, despite September 2015 having one more shipping week than the same month the previous year.
That said, September 2014 was nonetheless a very strong month, with Marvel launching its Death of Wolverine title and DC’s orders boosted by its lenticular “Future’s End” covers. Retailers ordered nearly $51 million in comics, graphic novels, and magazines that month, as compared with the approximately $45.33 million in comics, graphic novels, and magazines ordered this September.
As seen in one of the tables below, whereas the number of new graphic novels on offer rose substantially this September as expected with the fifth week, the number of new comics released barely changed, suggesting that publishers were trimming their periodical offerings as the market headed into autumn.
| DOLLAR
SHARE |
UNIT
SHARE |
|
| MARVEL COMICS | 32.67% | 38.12% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 26.01% | 26.32% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 11.81% | 12.07% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 5.72% | 4.84% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.42% | 3.64% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.11% | 2.08% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 1.79% | 1.80% |
| AVATAR PRESS INC | 1.55% | 1.19% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.32% | 0.56% |
| TITAN COMICS | 1.31% | 1.25% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 11.29% | 8.14% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTAL
SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 80 | 23 | 0 | 103 |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 70 | 25 | 0 | 95 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 73 | 18 | 0 | 91 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 42 | 20 | 0 | 62 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 29 | 26 | 0 | 55 |
| BOOM ENTERTAINMENT | 30 | 9 | 0 | 39 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 20 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| TITAN COMICS | 11 | 12 | 3 | 26 |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC | 10 | 5 | 0 | 15 |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 7 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| OTHER NON TOP 10 | 118 | 190 | 49 | 357 |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| SEPTEMBER 2015 VS. AUGUST 2015 | ||
| COMICS | 0.89% | -1.10% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 8.71% | 14.79% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 3.49% | 0.30% |
| SEPTEMBER 2015 VS. SEPTEMBER 2014 | ||
| COMICS | -19.62% | -20.15% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 12.51% | 30.61% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -10.73% | -16.89% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2015 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2014 | ||
| COMICS | 7.21% | 6.58% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 7.06% | 8.48% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 7.16% | 6.73% |
| THIRD QUARTER 2015 VS. SECOND QUARTER 2015 | ||
| COMICS | -12.07% | -14.18% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -0.26% | 1.14% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -8.49% | -12.94% |
| THIRD QUARTER 2015 VS. THIRD QUARTER 2014 | ||
| COMICS | -8.08% | -10.07% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 9.32% | 17.13% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -2.98% | -8.07% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS: SHATTERED EMPIRE #1 | $3.99 | JUL150767-M | MAR |
| 2 | STAR WARS #9 | $3.99 | JUN150792-M | MAR |
| 3 | BATMAN #44 | $4.99 | JUL150256-M | DC |
| 4 | DEADPOOL VS. THANOS #1 | $3.99 | JUL150789-M | MAR |
| 5 | DARTH VADER #9 | $3.99 | JUN150796-M | MAR |
| 6 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #5 | $3.99 | JUL150737-M | MAR |
| 7 | BATMAN ANNUAL #4 | $4.99 | JUL150258 | DC |
| 8 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #44 | $3.99 | JUL150202-M | DC |
| 9 | THE WALKING DEAD #146 (MR) | $2.99 | JUL150569 | IMA |
| 10 | DEADPOOL VS. THANOS #2 | $3.99 | JUL150792-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | SAGA VOLUME 5 TP (MR) | $14.99 | JUL150565 | IMA |
| 2 | DESCENDER VOLUME 1: TIN STARS TP (MR) | $9.99 | JUL150554-M | IMA |
| 3 | BATMAN VOLUME 7: ENDGAME HC | $24.99 | MAY150231 | DC |
| 4 | CHRONONAUTS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | MAY150488-M | IMA |
| 5 | BATMAN VOLUME 6: GRAVEYARD SHIFT TP (N52) | $16.99 | JUN150290 | DC |
| 6 | AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER VOLUME 10: SMOKE & SHADOW PART 1 TP | $10.99 | MAY150050 | DAR |
| 7 | MAD MAX: FURY ROAD TP (MR) | $14.99 | MAY150271 | DC |
| 8 | BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL EDITION HC | $17.99 | NOV070226 | DC |
| 9 | THE JOKER: ENDGAME HC | $29.99 | MAY150232 | DC |
| 10 | SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | AUG120491 | IMA |
TOP 10 BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | NEIL GAIMAN: THE SLEEPER & THE SPINDLE HC | $19.99 | JUL151864 | HAR |
| 2 | WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S STAR WARS: THE TRAGEDY OF THE SITH’S REVENGE HC | $14.95 | JUL151875 | QUI |
| 3 | LEGEND OF KORRA: ART OF THE ANIMATED SERIES BOOK 4: BALANCE | $34.99 | MAY150040 | DAR |
| 4 | THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 99 SC | $14.95 | JUL151869 | SAN |
| 5 | DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 83 SC | $14.95 | MAY151803 | SAN |
| 6 | AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: SUPERGIRL’S PET PROBLEM PB | $3.95 | JUL151821 | CAP |
| 7 | THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 6: INVASION HC | $26.99 | AUG152007 | STM |
| 8 | AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: MAGIC MONSTERS | $3.95 | JUL151823 | CAP |
| 9 | AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: BUBBLE TROUBLE | $3.95 | JUL151822 | CAP |
| 10 | DC SUPER HEROES SUPERMAN: LEX LUTHOR’S POWER GRAB | $5.95 | JUN151733 | CAP |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT: ARKHAM KNIGHT ACTION FIGURE | SEP140355 | DC |
| 2 | AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON: HULKBUSTER VS. IRON MAN ARTFX+ STATUE | MAR152213 | KOT |
| 3 | ARKHAM: BATMAN ACTION FIGURE 5-PACK | MAR150321 | DC |
| 4 | BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT PLAY ARTS KAI: ARKHAM KNIGHT FIGURE | MAR158226 | SQU |
| 5 | BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT: BATMAN ACTION FIGURE | SEP140356 | DC |
| 6 | DC COMICS: ZATANNA BISHOUJO STATUE | FEB152360 | KOT |
| 7 | AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON: THE HULK ARTFX+ STATUE | MAR152212 | KOT |
| 8 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: LEONARDO PVC FIGURE | NOV148117 | GOO |
| 9 | ELECTROCUTIONER/LADY SHIVA/HARLEEN QUINZELL FIGURE 3-PACK | MAY150300 | DC |
| 10 | BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT PLAY ARTS KAI: BATMAN FIGURE | FEB158188 | SQU |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MINECRAFT OFFICIAL MOJANG CONSTRUCTION - UPDATED EDITION HC | JUN152754 | SCH |
| 2 | MINECRAFT OFFICIAL MOJANG REDSTONE - UPDATED EDITION HC | JUN152756 | SCH |
| 3 | MINECRAFT OFFICIAL MOJANG ESSENTIAL - UPDATED EDITION HC | JUN152755 | SCH |
| 4 | MINECRAFT OFFICIAL MOJANG COMBAT - UPDATED EDITION HC | JUN152753 | SCH |
| 5 | BACK TO THE FUTURE MONOPOLY | JUL152198 | DST |
| 6 | DC DICE MASTERS WAR OF LIGHT FOIL PACKS | JUN152765 | NEC |
| 7 | D&D MINIATURES SET THREE BOOSTERS | JUN152763 | NEC |
| 8 | DC BOMBSHELLS 1000-PIECE JIGSAW PUZZLE | JUL152777 | NMR |
| 9 | MACHI KORO CARD GAME DELUXE EDITION | JUN152743 | IDW |
| 10 | DC DICE MASTERS: WAR OF LIGHT STARTER SET | JUN152769 | NEC |
