March comics sales figures have just been released by Diamond, and it was a rare win for DC in dollar market share, led by the 80 years in the making Detective Comics #1000. Marvel led in units, but let’s call this a win for DC.
While Detective #1000 was the 800 lb. gorilla, DC ws also buoyed by appearances from all its current hit books, including a new Batman who Laughs series, Doomsday Clock and Heroes in Crisis.
In year to year, quarter to quarter and month to month comparison, March was up in virtually every category. As John Jackson Miller posted, sales were up 13% from last March – which was, admittedly a very bad month for sales. Sales are not quite back to 2017 levels but they are climbing.
There’s one category that isn’t up though – total comics/GN unit sales were down -2.12% in Q1 19 from Q1 18. This would suggest that when Diamond says retailers are getting smarter about what they buy it also means that comics prices have risen, and the inflationary spiral is part of what’s helping comics bounce back.
One thing that has definitely bounced back: graphic novel sales were up in double digits from February and are growing again after a puzzlingly dismal 2018. The units were led by warhorses Walking Dead, Saga and Monstress, with a guest appearance by another Batman anniversary collection.
A little more from JJM, quoted with permission:
To no one’s surprise, Batman’s 80th anniversary dominated gave comics shop market orders a boost; retailers ordered more than $43.5 million in comic books, graphic novels, and magazines, 13% more than they did in March 2018.
That March, which also had four shipping weeks, was seen as a disappointment compared with the year prior; this March’s sales were $5 million greater, and doubtless having Detective Comics #1000 and the Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman hardcover around made much of the difference. The month completes a $123.2 million first quarter, up 8% over the same quarter in 2018; that makes three growth quarters out of four. Essentially bookended by April 2018’s Action #1000 and March 2019’s higher-priced Detective Comics #1000, the last 12 months stand at $525.3 million, up from $511 million in the same period prior, an increase of 3%.
I always like to play glass half empty to Miller’s half full – clearly comics are doing fine overall, but the fate of the pamphlet remains a question mark long term, for reasons I’ll dig into one of these days.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
|
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
| DC |
36.20% |
34.00% |
| MARVEL COMICS |
34.46% |
40.94% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
9.63% |
9.36% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
3.26% |
2.45% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
3.19% |
3.19% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.19% |
2.13% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
1.24% |
1.08% |
| VIZ MEDIA |
1.23% |
0.50% |
| ARCHIE COMICS |
0.80% |
0.86% |
| ONI PRESS |
0.74% |
0.64% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
7.07% |
4.85% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
MARCH 2019 VS. FEBRUARY 2019 |
||
| COMICS |
26.89% |
9.90% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
21.20% |
33.41% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
25.30% |
11.52% |
| TOYS |
-8.40% |
-10.17% |
|
MARCH 2019 VS. MARCH 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
15.82% |
-3.32% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
6.35% |
17.77% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
13.10% |
-1.87% |
| TOYS |
4.67% |
8.49% |
|
YEAR TO DATE 2019 VS. YEAR TO DATE 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
8.51% |
-2.12% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
5.46% |
3.95% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
7.64% |
-1.68% |
| TOYS |
20.14% |
29.77% |
|
FIRST QUARTER 2019 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
-4.89% |
-7.30% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
0.40% |
2.03% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-3.46% |
-6.66% |
| TOYS |
14.61% |
23.82% |
|
FIRST QUARTER 2019 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
8.51% |
-2.12% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
5.46% |
3.95% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
7.64% |
-1.68% |
| TOYS |
20.14% |
29.77% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
|
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS |
99 |
44 |
0 |
143 |
| DC |
66 |
35 |
0 |
101 |
| IMAGE COMICS |
66 |
27 |
0 |
93 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
25 |
21 |
0 |
46 |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
29 |
10 |
0 |
39 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
25 |
10 |
0 |
35 |
| VIZ MEDIA |
0 |
21 |
0 |
21 |
| ONI PRESS |
9 |
7 |
0 |
16 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
12 |
3 |
0 |
15 |
| ARCHIE COMICS |
8 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
138 |
207 |
17 |
362 |
| TOTAL |
477 |
387 |
17 |
881 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DETECTIVE COMICS #1000 |
$9.99 |
JAN190542-M | DC |
|
2 |
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS: THE GRIM KNIGHT #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN190535-M | DC |
|
3 |
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #9 |
$4.99 |
NOV180434-M | DC |
|
4 |
BATMAN #67 |
$3.99 |
JAN190576-M | DC |
|
5 |
BATMAN #66 |
$3.99 |
JAN190574-M | DC |
|
6 |
HEROES IN CRISIS #7 |
$3.99 |
JAN190558-M | DC |
|
7 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #17 |
$4.99 |
JAN190896-M | MAR |
|
8 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #18 |
$3.99 |
JAN190901-M | MAR |
|
9 |
SPIDER-MAN: CITY AT WAR #1 |
$3.99 |
JAN190967-M | MAR |
|
10 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE #20 |
$3.99 |
JAN190609-M | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DETECTIVE COMICS #1000 |
$9.99 |
JAN190542-M | DC |
|
2 |
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS: THE GRIM KNIGHT #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN190535-M | DC |
|
3 |
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #9 |
$4.99 |
NOV180434-M | DC |
|
4 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #17 |
$4.99 |
JAN190896-M | MAR |
|
5 |
BATMAN #67 |
$3.99 |
JAN190576-M | DC |
|
6 |
SPIDER-MAN: CITY AT WAR #1 |
$3.99 |
JAN190967-M | MAR |
|
7 |
BATMAN #66 |
$3.99 |
JAN190574-M | DC |
|
8 |
HEROES IN CRISIS #7 |
$3.99 |
JAN190558-M | DC |
|
9 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #18 |
$3.99 |
JAN190901-M | MAR |
|
10 |
SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN190927-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 31 TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
JAN190186 | IMA |
|
2 |
DETECTIVE COMICS: 80 YEARS OF BATMAN HC |
$29.99 |
DEC180641 | DC |
|
3 |
SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
AUG120491 | IMA |
|
4 |
MONSTRESS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
APR160803 | IMA |
|
5 |
THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOL. 8: OLD IS THE NEW NEW TP |
$17.99 |
JAN190247 | IMA |
|
6 |
SEVEN TO ETERNITY VOLUME 3 TP |
$16.99 |
OCT180111 | IMA |
|
7 |
BATMAN VOLUME 9: THE TYRANT WING TP |
$16.99 |
DEC180627 | DC |
|
8 |
SUPER SONS: THE POLARSHIELD PROJECT TP |
$9.99 |
DEC180509 | DC |
|
9 |
SAGA VOLUME 9 TP (MR) |
$14.99 |
JUL180297 | IMA |
|
10 |
MERA: TIDEBREAKER TP |
$16.99 |
DEC180508 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DETECTIVE COMICS: 80 YEARS OF BATMAN HC |
$29.99 |
DEC180641 | DC |
|
2 |
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 HC |
$125.00 |
SEP181003-M | MAR |
|
3 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 31 TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
JAN190186 | IMA |
|
4 |
AVENGERS OMNIBUS VOLUME 4 HC |
$100.00 |
SEP180999-M | MAR |
|
5 |
THANOS WARS: THE INFINITY ORIGIN OMNIBUS HC |
$100.00 |
OCT181003-M | MAR |
|
6 |
UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 1: X-MEN DISASSEMBLED TP |
$39.99 |
DEC181034 | MAR |
|
7 |
DARK NIGHTS METAL: DARK KNIGHTS RISING TP |
$24.99 |
DEC180638 | DC |
|
8 |
THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOL. 8: OLD IS THE NEW NEW TP |
$17.99 |
JAN190247 | IMA |
|
9 |
EARTH X TRILOGY OMNIBUS OMEGA HC |
$100.00 |
SEP180998 | MAR |
|
10 |
SEVEN TO ETERNITY VOLUME 3 TP |
$16.99 |
OCT180111 | IMA |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DOCTOR WHO: THIRTEEN DOCTORS 13 STORIES SC |
$17.99 |
DEC181677 | BBC |
|
2 |
FLCL ARCHIVES TP |
$39.99 |
DEC182217 | UDO |
|
3 |
SAMURAI PIZZA CATS OFFICIAL FAN BOOK SC |
$39.99 |
NOV182128 | UDO |
|
4 |
FAMILY TRAITS HC |
$29.99 |
DEC182218 | UDO |
|
5 |
THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 48 SC |
$29.95 |
APR181580 | GEM |
|
6 |
THE SAGA OF TANYA THE EVIL VOLUME 5 SC |
$14.00 |
JAN192356 | YEN |
|
7 |
MIDDLE-EARTH: JOURNEYS IN MYTH AND LEGEND HC |
$39.99 |
SEP180284 | DAR |
|
8 |
THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 139 SC |
$14.95 |
DEC182026 | SAN |
|
9 |
BLOODBORNE OFFICIAL ARTWORKS SC |
$44.99 |
MAR172148 | UDO |
|
10 |
GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK VOLUME 1 SC |
$12.99 |
OCT151871 | ZEN |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
OVERWATCH: REAPER FIGMA | MAR188251 | GOO |
|
2 |
MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: IRON SPIDER-MAN PVC STATUE | JUN182325 | DST |
|
3 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC COMICS: DARKSEID FIGURE | MAR188264 | MEZ |
|
4 |
KINGDOM HEARTS: SORA NENDOROID | JUN188352 | GOO |
|
5 |
MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: THOR FIGURE | APR182167 | DST |
|
6 |
BATMAN FAMILY: BATMAN MULTI PART STATUE | AUG180672 | DC |
|
7 |
BLACK PANTHER LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES | JUL188376 | HAS |
|
8 |
MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: CAPTAIN AMERICA FIGURE | APR182168 | DST |
|
9 |
DC COVER GIRLS: MERA BY JOELLE JONES STATUE | AUG180678 | DC |
|
10 |
BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: STATUE BY KLAUS JANSON | AUG180679 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
CREATURE CODEX HC | JUL183073 | PAI |
|
2 |
STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
|
3 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK | JUN091729 | PAI |
|
4 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK POCKET EDITION | APR168770 | PAI |
|
5 |
TOME OF BEASTS HC | JUN168476 | PAI |
|
6 |
PATHFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: RISE OF THE RUNELORDS ANNIVERSARY EDITION | APR121968 | PAI |
|
7 |
STARFINDER RPG: ARMORY HC | MAY182931 | PAI |
|
8 |
PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT: BASIC (NEW EDITION) | MAR138328 | PAI |
|
9 |
D&D ICONS OF THE REALM WATERDEEP: MAD MAGE BOOSTER BRICK | NOV182893 | NEC |
|
10 |
DRAGON AGE RPG: FACES OF THEDAS SOURCEBOOK | JAN182843 | GRE |
Astroturf.
I’m surprised the end of the of the Walking Dead era isn’t getting more notice, it’s lost 30% of its sales in the last 6 months and its trade debuts are down almost the same amount YOY
“I’m surprised the end of the of the Walking Dead era isn’t getting more notice,”
It’s remarkable that a comic that no one reads was able to lose 30% of its sales and still be around.
The answer is that so few people actually read comics–that a comic selling 30% is not a big deal.
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