Buoyed by the $9.99 Spider-Man #800 and a spate of $4.99 books, Marvel walloped DC in dollars in May sales figures just released by Diamond Comics – but in UNITS, less than a percentage point separated the two companies. DC had five books in the Top Ten, Marvel Four (and Walking Dead was the 10th.)
However, you need to remember that DC also slammed the market with as many a 1 million copies of its 25¢ DC Nation #0 promo comic. I know John Jackson Miller’s Comichron column will cover this is greater detail, but the jist is that DC got credit for the sales in its own market share, as is customary, but it doesn’t count towards the comparative sales stats. According to Miller,
if DC Nation #0 HAD been included in that count — and if it was indeed a million copies — it would mean the comics unit sales would be up 16% over April, up 3.5% over last May, and we’d shave the year-to-year loss to 8%.
However the 25¢ Saga issue WAS Counted last year so…man I’m glad I don’t do these sales charts.
So yes a few shenanigans, but overall things have stabilized a bit, at least in dollars, with comics periodical over the same year to date from last year by 0.22%. Graphic Novels sales are still down about 10% but periodicals are inching back to 2017 levels, even if it is mostly because of the higher cover prices.
The best-selling GN for May was Kevin Rubio and Lucas Marangon’s Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here, followed by The Infinity Gauntlet at #2 and Where We Live: A Benefit for the Survivors in Las Vegas at #3.
Placeholder for Miller’s column when it goes live.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
|
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS |
42.64% |
38.35% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT |
25.71% |
37.87% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
10.83% |
9.67% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
3.65% |
3.07% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
2.54% |
1.63% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
1.96% |
1.58% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
1.64% |
1.30% |
| VIZ MEDIA |
1.12% |
0.40% |
| ONI PRESS |
1.03% |
0.48% |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT |
0.84% |
0.90% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
8.03% |
4.75% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
|
MAY 2018 VS. APRIL 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
7.00% |
2.99% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
6.94% |
4.85% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
6.98% |
3.13% |
| TOYS |
4.95% |
23.84% |
|
MAY 2018 VS. MAY 2017 |
||
| COMICS |
6.23% |
-8.63% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-8.04% |
-13.85% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
1.84% |
-9.06% |
| TOYS |
-28.63% |
-30.85% |
|
YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017 |
||
| COMICS |
0.22% |
-9.80% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-9.31% |
-10.56% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-2.67% |
-9.85% |
| TOYS |
-12.06% |
-17.25% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
|
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS |
92 |
42 |
0 |
134 |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT |
74 |
30 |
0 |
104 |
| IMAGE COMICS |
65 |
22 |
0 |
87 |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
39 |
24 |
0 |
63 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
23 |
12 |
0 |
35 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
17 |
16 |
0 |
33 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
20 |
5 |
0 |
25 |
| VIZ MEDIA |
0 |
22 |
0 |
22 |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT |
8 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
| ONI PRESS |
3 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
131 |
208 |
32 |
371 |
| TOTAL |
472 |
386 |
32 |
890 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 |
$9.99 |
MAR180826-M | MAR |
|
2 |
VENOM #1 |
$4.99 |
MAR180796-M | MAR |
|
3 |
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #5 |
$4.99 |
MAR180233-M | DC |
|
4 |
AVENGERS #1 |
$4.99 |
MAR180776-M | MAR |
|
5 |
BLACK PANTHER #1 |
$4.99 |
MAR180786-M | MAR |
|
6 |
BATMAN #47 |
$2.99 |
MAR180256-M | DC |
|
7 |
BATMAN #46 |
$2.99 |
MAR180254-M | DC |
|
8 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE #1 |
$3.99 |
MAR180228-M | DC |
|
9 |
THE MAN OF STEEL #1 [*] |
$3.99 |
APR180145 | DC |
|
10 |
THE WALKING DEAD #179 (MR) |
$3.99 |
MAR180767-M | IMA |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 |
$9.99 |
MAR180826-M | MAR |
|
2 |
VENOM #1 |
$4.99 |
MAR180796-M | MAR |
|
3 |
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #5 |
$4.99 |
MAR180233-M | DC |
|
4 |
AVENGERS #1 |
$4.99 |
MAR180776-M | MAR |
|
5 |
BLACK PANTHER #1 |
$4.99 |
MAR180786-M | MAR |
|
6 |
ACTION COMICS #1000 |
$7.99 |
FEB180142-M | DC |
|
7 |
DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #300 |
$5.99 |
MAR180832-M | MAR |
|
8 |
BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT #8 |
$4.99 |
MAR180260-M | DC |
|
9 |
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #600 |
$5.99 |
MAR180837-M | MAR |
|
10 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE #1 |
$3.99 |
MAR180228-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
STAR WARS: TAG & BINK WERE HERE #1 |
$7.99 |
MAR180947 | MAR |
|
2 |
THE INFINITY GAUNTLET TP |
$24.99 |
JUL110745 | MAR |
|
3 |
WHERE WE LIVE: LAS VEGAS SHOOTING BENEFIT ANTHOLOGY TP |
$19.99 |
MAR180600 | IMA |
|
4 |
SNOTGIRL VOL. 2: CALIFORNIA SCREAMING TP |
$15.99 |
MAR180757 | IMA |
|
5 |
DARK DAYS: THE ROAD TO METAL HC |
$29.99 |
DEC170376 | DC |
|
6 |
WONDER WOMAN VOL. 5: HEART OF THE AMAZON TP |
$16.99 |
FEB180292 | DC |
|
7 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN/VENOM: VENOM, INC TP |
$19.99 |
FEB180936 | MAR |
|
8 |
HELLBOY OMNIBUS VOL. 1: SEED OF DESTRUCTION TP |
$24.99 |
JAN180104 | DAR |
|
9 |
BLACK MAGICK VOL. 2: AWAKENING II TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
MAR180642 | IMA |
|
10 |
BLACK PANTHER: LONG LIVE THE KING TP |
$14.99 |
FEB180931 | MAR |
|
10 |
INFINITY WAR TP |
$29.99 |
JAN062102 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
THE INFINITY GAUNTLET TP |
$24.99 |
JUL110745 | MAR |
|
2 |
PUNISHER MAX BY GARTH ENNIS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC (MR) |
$100.00 |
NOV171043 | MAR |
|
3 |
STAR WARS: TAG & BINK WERE HERE #1 |
$7.99 |
MAR180947 | MAR |
|
4 |
DARK DAYS: THE ROAD TO METAL HC |
$29.99 |
DEC170376 | DC |
|
5 |
WHERE WE LIVE: LAS VEGAS SHOOTING BENEFIT ANTHOLOGY TP |
$19.99 |
MAR180600 | IMA |
|
6 |
WOLVERINE GOES TO HELL OMNIBUS HC |
$100.00 |
NOV171044 | MAR |
|
7 |
INFINITY WAR TP |
$29.99 |
JAN062102 | MAR |
|
8 |
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: MARVEL TEAM-UP VOL. 3 HC |
$75.00 |
NOV171039-M | MAR |
|
9 |
HELLBOY OMNIBUS VOL. 1: SEED OF DESTRUCTION TP |
$24.99 |
JAN180104 | DAR |
|
10 |
WEAPON X: THE RETURN OMNIBUS HC |
$125.00 |
NOV171045 | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK VOL. 2 |
$12.99 |
APR181912 | ZEN |
|
2 |
OVERLORD VOL. 7 LIGHT NOVEL HC |
$20.00 |
MAR188458 | YEN |
|
3 |
THE ART OF JIM STARLIN: LIFE IN WORDS & PICTURES HC |
$49.99 |
MAR181077 | AFT |
|
4 |
BLOODBORNE OFFICIAL ARTWORKS SC |
$44.99 |
MAR172148 | UDO |
|
5 |
DOCTOR WHO TARGET COLLECTION: CITY OF DEATH MMPB |
$9.99 |
APR181367 | PEN |
|
6 |
THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 129 SC |
$14.95 |
FEB182112 | SAN |
|
7 |
OVERWATCH ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 1 HC |
$19.99 |
JUN170080 | DAR |
|
8 |
WOLF & PARCHMENT VOL. 2 LIGHT NOVEL SC |
$14.00 |
FEB181982 | YEN |
|
9 |
DEATH MARCH TO THE PARALLEL WORLD RHAPSODY VOL. 5 NOVEL SC |
$14.00 |
MAR182083 | YEN |
|
10 |
NEIL GAIMAN: NORSE MYTHOLOGY SC |
$15.95 |
DEC178273 | WW |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC: ASCENDING KNIGHT BATMAN “BLUE” FIGURE | JUL178556 | MEZ |
|
2 |
DC DESIGNER SERIES: METAL BATMAN STATUE BY CAPULLO | NOV170394 | DC |
|
3 |
POP! RICK & MORTY: PICKLE RICK “NO LIMBS” VINYL FIGURE | DEC178162 | FUN |
|
4 |
POP! HEROES: DC: DEATH VINYL FIGURE | DEC178161 | FUN |
|
5 |
OVERWATCH: GENJI 12-INCH STATUE | DEC178061 | BLI |
|
6 |
MARVEL GALLERY: X-23 PVC STATUE | NOV172443 | DST |
|
7 |
OVERWATCH: D.VA 20-INCH STATUE | AUG178473 | BLI |
|
8 |
BATMAN VS. THE JOKER: LAFF-CO BATTLE STATUE | OCT170396 | DC |
|
9 |
DC REBIRTH: JUSTICE LEAGUE ACTION FIGURE 7-PACK | AUG160372 | DC |
|
10 |
STRANGER THINGS: DEMOGORGON DELUXE ACTION FIGURE | SEP178832 | TMP |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
MARVEL HEROCLIX: AVENGERS INFINITY COLOSSAL BOOSTER BRICK | DEC172935 | NEC |
|
2 |
STARFINDER RPG: PACT WORLDS HC | JAN182863 | PAI |
|
3 |
CRITICAL ROLE: TAL DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
|
4 |
PATHFINDER RPG: ULTIMATE MAGIC POCKET EDITION | FEB182807 | PAI |
|
5 |
PATHFINDER RPG: BESTIARY 4 POCKET EDITION | FEB182806 | PAI |
|
6 |
STARFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: DEAD SUNS PART 5 SC | FEB182808 | PAI |
|
7 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK | JUN091729 | PAI |
|
8 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK POCKET EDITION | APR168770 | PAI |
|
9 |
STARFINDER RPG ALIEN: ARCHIVE HC | AUG173202 | PAI |
|
10 |
PATHFINDER RPG: BOOK OF THE DAMNED HC | JUL173377 | PAI |
The Comcihron column, along with a link to our explainer video, is at http://blog.comichron.com/2018/06/may-2018-comics-sales-best-in-year-and.html
Gosh, I’m glad the market is back to the “healthy” place where it can overcharge customers again. I hope all the retailers are investing that money from their ASM 800 sales. This on top of the Thor 700 sales and Action Comics 1000 sales and Spectacular Spider-Man 300 sales…
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