Wolverine and Harleen topped February sales, according to charts just released by Diamond Distributors. Wolverine #1 by Ben Percy, Adam Kubert, and Viktor Bogdanovic and Stjepan Sejic’s Harleen were the top selling periodical and graphic novel, respectively. Marvel had eight of the top ten periodicals, while they made an unusually strong showing GNs due to a sale on some backlist Star Wars collections.
DC’s Black Label books continue to do very well, with the collection of the periodical Harleen joining other best sellers from the combination “mature” and “elseworlds” not-an-imprint.
Comparative sales were down from January but up from February 2019. comics are not dying after all. But the how the effects of COVID-19 will hit the comics industry and the rest of the world is yet to be seen, duh.
John Jackson Miller takes a look at how comics do in times of emergency in his column, noting that comics, as cheap entertainment, generally perform well during economic downturns.
Meanwhile, some external shocks that related more generally to the U.S. economy have had less impact. The comics industry didn’t slow down until well after 2008 financial crisis was past, for example, and the 1990-91 recession ended up being no impediment to the record early 1990s comics market at all. The month of 9/11 was, in fact, a turning point in the industry’s fortunes, as the comic book that kickstarted the post-1990s recovery, Wolverine: The Origin #1, had already hit shelves on Sept. 5, 2001.
He notes that February was another strong month overall with both Marvel AND DC up.
The greatest jump, however, was in the number of graphic novel units sold: that’s because Marvel had a major sale on Star Wars collected editions in February, resulting in the unusual situation that no less than six titles from 2015 and 2016 made the Top 10 Graphic Novels list. There have been many other months over the years where discounted titles impacted the charts, but never have so many made the Top 10. The dollar rankings chart is thus probably worth more attention this time around. Both charts were led by the Harleen hardcover.
Will comics survive COVID-19 despite the end of public events for a minimum of three months? Certainly. But how much the disruption in production and shipping from China, and increasing self-quanrantine among customers will ding the industry is a rapidly evolving story.
And the charts:
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
|
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS |
41.85% |
47.30% |
| DC COMICS |
29.00% |
30.16% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
6.02% |
5.41% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
3.47% |
3.14% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
2.93% |
2.06% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.58% |
2.64% |
| VIZ MEDIA |
2.24% |
0.87% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
2.11% |
2.04% |
| RANDOM HOUSE |
0.62% |
0.18% |
| TITAN COMICS |
0.56% |
0.45% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
8.61% |
5.74% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
FEBRUARY 2020 VS. JANUARY 2020 |
||
| COMICS |
-8.25% |
-7.75% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-27.16% |
-13.89% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-14.25% |
-8.26% |
| TOYS |
-22.37% |
-34.10% |
|
FEBRUARY 2020 VS. FEBRUARY 2019 |
||
| COMICS |
8.78% |
2.90% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
3.56% |
15.46% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
7.32% |
3.77% |
| TOYS |
0.83% |
-14.97% |
|
YEAR-TO-DATE 2020 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2019 |
||
| COMICS |
0.12% |
-3.45% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
4.44% |
6.60% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
1.35% |
-2.72% |
| TOYS |
2.59% |
-15.75% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
|
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS |
92 |
47 |
0 |
139 |
| DC COMICS |
102 |
27 |
1 |
130 |
| IMAGE COMICS |
39 |
8 |
0 |
47 |
| VIZ MEDIA LLC |
0 |
40 |
0 |
40 |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
28 |
10 |
0 |
38 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
20 |
17 |
0 |
37 |
| DYNAMITE |
29 |
4 |
0 |
33 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
17 |
8 |
0 |
25 |
| YEN PRESS |
0 |
18 |
0 |
18 |
| TITAN COMICS |
7 |
4 |
2 |
13 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
141 |
134 |
24 |
299 |
| TOTAL |
475 |
317 |
27 |
819 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
WOLVERINE #1 |
$7.99 |
DEC190753-M | MAR |
|
2 |
X-MEN #6 |
$3.99 |
NOV190812-M | MAR |
|
3 |
X-MEN #7 |
$4.99 |
DEC190786-M | MAR |
|
4 |
GWEN STACY #1 |
$4.99 |
DEC190842-M | MAR |
|
5 |
GIANT SIZE X-MEN: JEAN GREY & EMMA FROST #1 |
$4.99 |
DEC190780-M | MAR |
|
6 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #39 |
$3.99 |
DEC190863-M | MAR |
|
7 |
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #1 |
$4.99 |
DEC190965-M | MAR |
|
8 |
BATMAN #88 |
$3.99 |
DEC190442 | DC |
|
9 |
X-MEN/FANTASTIC FOUR #1 |
$4.99 |
DEC190770-M | MAR |
|
10 |
BATMAN #89 |
$3.99 |
DEC190444 | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
WOLVERINE #1 |
$7.99 |
DEC190753-M | MAR |
|
2 |
X-MEN #7 |
$4.99 |
DEC190786-M | MAR |
|
3 |
X-MEN #6 |
$3.99 |
NOV190812-M | MAR |
|
4 |
GWEN STACY #1 |
$4.99 |
DEC190842-M | MAR |
|
5 |
GIANT SIZE X-MEN: JEAN GREY & EMMA FROST #1 |
$4.99 |
DEC190780-M | MAR |
|
6 |
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #1 |
$4.99 |
DEC190965-M | MAR |
|
7 |
X-MEN/FANTASTIC FOUR #1 |
$4.99 |
DEC190770-M | MAR |
|
8 |
BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #7 |
$4.99 |
DEC190448-M | DC |
|
9 |
THE JOKER: KILLER SMILE #3 (MR) |
$5.99 |
DEC190477-M | DC |
|
10 |
DC CRIMES OF PASSION #1 |
$9.99 |
DEC190416-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
HARLEEN HC (MR) |
$29.99 |
OCT190670 | DC |
|
2 |
DIE VOL. 2: SPLIT THE PARTY TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
DEC190086 | IMA |
|
3 |
BATMAN TALES: ONCE UPON A CRIME TP |
$9.99 |
OCT190492 | DC |
|
4 |
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER VOL. 4: END OF GAMES TP |
$19.99 |
JUL161076 | MAR |
|
5 |
STAR WARS: JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS: SHATTERED EMPIRE HC |
$24.99 |
MAY160921 | MAR |
|
6 |
STAR WARS: VADER DOWN TP |
$19.99 |
JAN160962 | MAR |
|
7 |
STAR WARS: CHEWBACCA TP |
$16.99 |
NOV150951 | MAR |
|
8 |
STAR WARS VOLUME 2: SHOWDOWN ON THE SMUGGLER’S MOON TP |
$19.99 |
OCT150986 | MAR |
|
9 |
STAR WARS VOLUME 3: REBEL JAIL TP |
$19.99 |
MAY160922 | MAR |
|
10 |
MY HERO ACADEMIA VOLUME 23 GN |
$9.99 |
DEC192056 | VIZ |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
HARLEEN HC (MR) |
$29.99 |
OCT190670 | DC |
|
2 |
X-MEN VS. APOCALYPSE: THE TWELVE OMNIBUS HC |
$125.00 |
AUG191137 | MAR |
|
3 |
SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES OMNIBUS HC |
$100.00 |
AUG191136 | MAR |
|
4 |
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 12 HC |
$100.00 |
AUG191143-M | MAR |
|
5 |
DAREDEVIL BY BENDIS & MALEEV OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC |
$100.00 |
JUL191089 | MAR |
|
6 |
DIE VOL. 2: SPLIT THE PARTY TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
DEC190086 | IMA |
|
7 |
MARVEL MASTERS OF SUSPENSE: STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC |
$100.00 |
AUG191145 | MAR |
|
8 |
ULTIMATES BY MARK MILLAR & BRYAN HITCH OMNIBUS HC |
$100.00 |
AUG191130 | MAR |
|
9 |
BERSERK DELUXE EDITION VOLUME 4 HC (MR) |
$49.99 |
OCT190398 | DAR |
|
10 |
METABARONS BOX SET HC |
$149.95 |
NOV191776 | HUM |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
IS WRONG PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON? VOL. 14 SC |
$15.00 |
JUN192164 | YEN |
|
2 |
NO GAME, NO LIFE VOLUME 10 SC |
$14.00 |
DEC192108 | YEN |
|
3 |
RE:ZERO: STARTING LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD VOL. 12 SC |
$14.00 |
DEC192110 | YEN |
|
4 |
THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOL. 49 SC |
$29.95 |
APR191757-M | GEM |
|
5 |
MY HERO ACADEMIA: SCHOOL BRIEFS VOL. 4 SC |
$10.99 |
JAN202203 | VIZ |
|
6 |
DRAGON BALL: A VISUAL HISTORY HC |
$34.99 |
AUG192435 | VIZ |
|
7 |
DISNEY: I AM MULAN LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK |
$4.99 |
DEC191723 | GOL |
|
8 |
GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK VOL. 1 SC |
$12.99 |
OCT151871 | ZEN |
|
9 |
COMICS JOURNAL #305 |
$14.99 |
DEC191680 | FAN |
|
10 |
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: LEGACY OF FIRE NATION HC |
$24.99 |
DEC191747 | INS |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL: CABLE (X-MEN EDITION) FIGURE | OCT188681 | MEZ |
|
2 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC: GREEN LANTERN HAL JORDAN FIGURE | NOV188570 | MEZ |
|
3 |
DC DESIGNER SERIES: HARLEY & POISON IVY BY LUPPACHINO STATUE | JUL190677 | DC |
|
4 |
DEVIL MAY CRY 5: DANTE DELUXE VERSION 1/12-SCALE FIGURE | APR198276 | 100 |
|
5 |
POP! MARVEL HEROES: THANOS SNAP 6-INCH DELUXE VINYL FIGURE | MAY198251 | FUN |
|
6 |
GODZILLA GALLERY: GODZILLA (1991) DELUXE PVC FIGURE | MAY192385 | DST |
|
7 |
DEVIL MAY CRY 5: NERO DELUXE VERSION 1/12-SCALE FIGURE | MAY198059 | 100 |
|
8 |
MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS ENDGAME: IRON MAN MK. 85 FIGURE | SEP192494 | DST |
|
9 |
TRANSFORMERS: OPTIMUS PRIME DELUXE SCALE FIGURE | MAY198120 | THR |
|
10 |
MARVEL PREMIER: CARNAGE STATUE | JUN192392 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
PATHFINDER: GAMEMASTERY GUIDE HC | NOV192998 | PAI |
|
2 |
CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
|
3 |
MARVEL HEROCLIX: CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE AVENGERS BOOSTER BRICK | AUG198599 | NEC |
|
4 |
MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: THEROS BEYOND DEATH BOOSTER PACKS | SEP198414 | WIZ |
|
5 |
CREATURE CODEX HC | JUL183073 | PAI |
|
6 |
STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
|
7 |
PATHFINDER: GAMEMASTERY GUIDE SPECIAL EDITION HC | NOV192999 | PAI |
|
8 |
PATHFINDER: CORE RULEBOOK HC | MAY193227 | PAI |
|
9 |
PATHFINDER RPG: RISE OF THE RUNELORDS ANNIVERSARY POCKET EDITION | DEC192952 | PAI |
|
10 |
PATHFINDER: ADVENTURE GEAR DECK | DEC192950 | PAI |
An Ollie’s just opened near me, and most of their graphic novel selection was buyout Star Wars collected editions from Marvel. A lot of Star Wars Legends Epic Collections for like 4 or 5 dollars each.
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