Say what you will about the storyline, Secret Empire #0 was the #1 comic for April according to the statistics just released by Diamond. Marvel also widened its traditional lead over DC after falling behind in units in March. Marvel topped DC 34.95% to 30.49% in dollars and 38.23% to 34.34% in units, still a bit closer than in past years.
The Batman “button” issue was the #2 seller for the month, showing controversy sells, and the Flash lenticular cover also charted.
In comparisons, there are a lot of down numbers, particularly among graphic novels, down double digits from last year. In overall sales, dollars are down 5.74% but units are still up 5.04%.
I’m not sure what’s behind the big drop in graphic novels, and people I’ve spoken to aren’t quite sure either. Last year’s April GNs included the smash Wonder Woman Earth One, and Deadpool collections were selling briskly after the movie became a phenomenon, so I’m sure that had something to do with it. Marvel’s first Star Wars trades were also big sellers.
In general, I’m guessing that maybe the lackluster periodicals of 2016 are now being collected into lackluster trades? Since Diamond never released it’s year end numbers (BOO DIAMOND) we’ll never be able to make a direct comparison.
DC’s BATMAN VOLUME 2: I AM SUICIDE TP led the GN charts, and the Rebirth collections seem to be doing okay. Marvel had no GNs in the top ten. Dark Horse and Image had two each.
John jackson Miller’s generaly more informed commentary for the month is up, noting the year has started with soft sales.
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS |
34.95% |
38.23% |
DC ENTERTAINMENT |
30.49% |
34.34% |
IMAGE COMICS |
10.54% |
9.86% |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
4.46% |
3.06% |
IDW PUBLISHING |
3.63% |
2.95% |
BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.27% |
1.95% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
1.44% |
1.60% |
VIZ MEDIA |
1.30% |
0.48% |
TITAN COMICS |
1.30% |
1.20% |
ARCHIE COMICS |
0.90% |
0.79% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
8.73% |
5.55% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
APRIL 2017 VS. MARCH 2017 |
||
COMICS |
-9.47% |
-5.31% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-10.77% |
-6.00% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-9.87% |
-5.36% |
TOYS |
-45.50% |
-39.17% |
APRIL 2017 VS. APRIL 2016 |
||
COMICS |
-11.28% |
-4.66% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-17.18% |
-15.47% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-13.18% |
-5.62% |
TOYS |
-20.01% |
-21.08% |
YEAR-TO-DATE 2017 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2016 |
||
COMICS |
-2.53% |
6.89% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-12.41% |
-14.02% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-5.74% |
5.04% |
TOYS |
-6.38% |
-5.57% |
PAGE_BREAK: PageBreakNEW TITLES SHIPPED
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
MARVEL COMICS |
93 |
41 |
0 |
134 |
DC ENTERTAINMENT |
78 |
33 |
1 |
112 |
IMAGE COMICS |
57 |
11 |
1 |
69 |
IDW PUBLISHING |
47 |
15 |
0 |
62 |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
20 |
21 |
0 |
41 |
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT |
26 |
12 |
0 |
38 |
VIZ MEDIA |
0 |
30 |
0 |
30 |
TITAN COMICS |
23 |
2 |
1 |
26 |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
15 |
6 |
0 |
21 |
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS |
12 |
3 |
0 |
15 |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
108 |
112 |
31 |
251 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
SECRET EMPIRE #0 |
$4.99 |
FEB170758-M | MAR |
2 |
BATMAN #21 LENTICULAR EDITION (THE BUTTON) |
$3.99 |
NOV169200 | DC |
3 |
X-MEN GOLD #1 |
$4.99 |
FEB170777-M | MAR |
4 |
X-MEN BLUE #1 |
$4.99 |
FEB170767-M | MAR |
5 |
THE FLASH #21 LENTICULAR EDITION (THE BUTTON) |
$3.99 |
NOV169204 | DC |
6 |
BATMAN #20 |
$2.99 |
FEB170191-M | DC |
7 |
BATMAN #21 (THE BUTTON) |
$2.99 |
NOV169198-M | DC |
8 |
STAR WARS #30 |
$3.99 |
FEB170955-M | MAR |
9 |
WEAPON X #1 |
$3.99 |
FEB170790-M | MAR |
10 |
THE WALKING DEAD #166 (MR) |
$2.99 |
FEB170686 | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
BATMAN VOLUME 2: I AM SUICIDE TP |
$16.99 |
JAN170376 | DC |
2 |
HELLBOY: INTO THE SILENT SEA HC |
$14.99 |
DEC160056 | DAR |
3 |
SAGA VOLUME 7 TP (MR) |
$14.99 |
JAN170850 | IMA |
4 |
SUPERMAN VOL. 2: TRIALS OF THE SUPER SON TP |
$16.99 |
JAN170383 | DC |
5 |
ALL-STAR BATMAN VOL. 1: MY OWN WORST ENEMY HC |
$24.99 |
JAN170374 | DC |
6 |
SAGA DELUXE EDITION VOLUME 2 HC (MR) |
$49.99 |
FEB170708 | IMA |
7 |
BATMAN VOLUME 10: EPILOGUE TP |
$16.99 |
JAN170385 | DC |
8 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 2: OUTBREAK TP |
$16.99 |
JAN170380 | DC |
9 |
AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER VOL. 15 TP |
$10.99 |
DEC160088 | DAR |
10 |
RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS VOL. 1: DARK TRINITY TP |
$16.99 |
JAN170381 | DC |
PAGE_BREAK: PageBreakTOP 10 BOOKS
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
WONDER WOMAN TALKING FIGURE & ILLUSTRATED BOOK KIT |
$12.95 |
FEB172203 | HAC |
2 |
MASTERS OF SPANISH COMIC BOOK ART HC |
$39.99 |
NOV161453 | DE |
3 |
THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 116 SC |
$14.95 |
JAN172333 | SAN |
4 |
STAR WARS BIG GOLDEN BOOK: A NEW HOPE |
$10.99 |
FEB172246 | RAN |
5 |
ATTACK ON TITAN ADVENTURE SC |
$10.99 |
DEC161774 | KOT |
6 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA: ART & ARTIFACTS HC |
$39.99 |
JUL168360 | DAR |
7 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC |
$34.99 |
SEP120055 | DAR |
8 |
TOKYO GHOUL: PAST SC NOVEL |
$12.99 |
FEB172098 | VIZ |
9 |
STAR TREK: CATS HC |
$14.95 |
FEB172242 | CHR |
10 |
STAR WARS: CLASSIC STICKER BOOK SC |
$12.95 |
FEB172243 | ABR |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
SUICIDE SQUAD: HARLEY QUINN PX MAF EX | AUG162979 | MED |
2 |
HARLEY QUINN: RED WHITE & BLACK STATUE BY JIM LEE | SEP160380 | DC |
3 |
DC ICONS: WONDER WOMAN ACTION FIGURE | OCT160343 | DC |
4 |
DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: RAVEN STATUE | OCT160332 | DC |
5 |
POP! MARVEL: BLADE VINYL FIGURE | JUL168820 | FUN |
6 |
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 40TH-ANNIVERSARY 6-INCH FIGURES | JAN178152 | HAS |
7 |
HARLEY QUINN: RED WHITE & BLACK STATUE: INJUSTICE 2 | OCT160338 | DC |
8 |
DC ICONS: DEATHSTROKE ACTION FIGURE | OCT160344 | DC |
9 |
DC DESIGNER SERIES: STARFIRE BY AMANDA CONNER STATUE | SEP160381 | DC |
10 |
POWER RANGERS LEGACY 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES | NOV169036 | BAN |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
1 |
MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: SHADOWS OVER INNISTRAD BOOSTERS | FEB162979 | WIZ |
2 |
PATHFINDER ROLEPLAYING GAME: BEGINNER BOX NEW EDITION | SEP138188 | PAI |
3 |
MARVEL HEROCLIX: MERCS FOR MONEY FAST FORCES 6-PACK | NOV162999 | NEC |
4 |
MARVEL HEROCLIX: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY | OCT168616 | NEC |
5 |
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: SHADOWS OF THE PAST BOARD GAME | APR160482 | IDW |
6 |
MOUSE GUARD ROLEPLAYING GAME BOXED SET (2ND EDITION) | FEB151158 | BOO |
7 |
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: STAR WARS GAME | OCT168253 | HAS |
8 |
YU-GI-OH! DUELIST SAGA | FEB173203 | KON |
9 |
DC HEROCLIX: THE JOKER’S WILD BOOSTER BRICK | JUL163367 | NEC |
10 |
SUPERNATURAL TRIVIAL PURSUIT | FEB173217 | USA |
PAGE_BREAK: PageBreakHow 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 category tables in this press release are ranked by units sold by Diamond to its accounts for the comic books, graphic novels, and books categories and by the dollars invoiced by Diamond for the toys and games categories.
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.
***
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 thousands of specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.
© 2017 Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. All rights reserved. Diamond, the Diamond logo, Diamond Books logo, and PREVIEWS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Diamond Comic Distributors in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective copyright owners.
Note that the Batman lenticular and the regular covers are listed separately. Adding them together it’s fairly certain that issue #21 of BATMAN outsold SECRET EMPIRE #0 by a good measure.
-B
A good month for Marvel but the devil’s in the details. Out of all of their books in the top 10, all of them are debut issues for either event crossover mini’s or new titles, and issue 2 for all of them will see drops. Some of those drops will be 50% at least. The only exception is Star Wars #30, a franchise Disney handed them on a platter. Amazing Spider-Man will likely continue to be their MU sales flagship without relying on a #1 issue (for the moment) and that likely will be around 70k or less.
Also, whoa, Marvel shipped 93 comics in one month! That’s 23 a week! They’d have to trim the line drastically just to be even with DC. Maybe they need to focus on making few books better than on spamming the market. Seriously, nobody wanted stuff like SOLO.
Definite possibility regarding Batman’s sales. Different cover prices get different line-items in Diamond’s charts. The Combo Packs were similarly divided.
And yes, Marvel has released 46 more comics so far this year than last, a year-over-year increase for 2017 of about 13.5%. Same number of ship weeks. Marvel’s GN output in the same frame is almost unchanged. Marvel accounts for more than half the increase Diamond has reported in the number of new comics released in 2017.
The large drop-ff in graphic novel sales through Diamond is disconcerting. I’ll be curious to see if GN sales are going to other outlets (Amazon, bookstores, etc.) or are disappearing all together. If it’s the latter, then comics are in much more trouble than we think…
April graphic novel sales were up at my store though not as much as last year. The reason graphic novel sales are down at Diamond is because the majority of DM stores are mostly capes and tights stores and Marvel and DC trades are selling poorly as usual. Other publisher’s trades are flying out the door. Floppies continue their death spiral. Secret Empire #0 is a complete flop as well as #1. The Secret Empire story is unreadable. Batman and Flash blew Secret Empire out of the water. I am sure that Secret Empire #0 and #1 will keep a lot of store’s $1 boxes well stocked for quite some time. Face it people, Marvel is never coming back, and that is a good thing. People will be forced to start reading good comics from other publishers instead…..
I’d be willing to bet most graphic novel sales are moving to book retailers. Is just the native environment for most people looking to buy books. Plus I can say over the last year I allocated more of my comics money to single issues (because they’re all so good right now) and less money for collected editions. And thanks for clarifying why the 2 separate line items for the Button issues, John.
Someone should add up both of the Batman #21 (2 – lenticular & 7 – standard) and Flash #21 (5 lenticular and the standard – not in top 10). Curious where they ranked combined. Could they be the top 2? Or maybe Batman 1 and Flash 3.
And of course Marvel make more % than DC. They have 15 more comics a month and 9 more trades a month.
Marvel’s latest cancellation is BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW, canceled after two issues. (Issue #1 sold 35,604 copies according to ICV2.com; orders for issue #2 probably came in at 17,000 or fewer.) Clearly, retailers and fans did not want or need three ongoing Black Panther series. That means TOTALLY AWESOME HULK, HAWKEYE, and MONSTERS UNLEASHED are next on the chopping block.
Steve
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