By Todd Allen
Here’s the drill: Diamond has released the top 100 titles and relative rankings for graphic novels for February 2012. Since Walking Dead is usually a fairly consistently selling title, I’m going to plug last month’s Walking Dead numbers (both Comichron and ICV2 had January’s Walking Dead estimated at 31,596) into Diamond’s rankings. That should get us relatively close to the formal estimates that should be out soon. If Walking Dead had a good month, the numbers should be higher. If Walking Dead had a bad month, the numbers will be lower. History suggests this will be within +/- 5%, if not +/- 1%, praise to Great Kirkman.
1
|
3.42
|
BATMAN GATES OF GOTHAM TP
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
4,290
|
2
|
3.16
|
FANTASTIC FOUR SEASON ONE PREM HC
|
$24.99
|
MAR
|
3,964
|
3
|
2.54
|
UNCANNY X-FORCE TP VOL 02 DEATHLOK NATION
|
$15.99
|
MAR
|
3,186
|
4
|
2.48
|
AMERICAN VAMPIRE HC VOL 03 (MR)
|
$24.99
|
DC
|
3,111
|
5
|
2.43
|
BATMAN TIME AND THE BATMAN TP
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
3,048
|
6
|
2.37
|
BATMAN THE BLACK MIRROR HC
|
$29.99
|
DC
|
2,973
|
7
|
2.25
|
BATMAN VS BANE TP
|
$12.99
|
DC
|
2,822
|
8
|
2.2
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 15 (MR)
|
$14.99
|
IMA
|
2,759
|
9
|
2.14
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE
|
$9.99
|
IMA
|
2,684
|
10
|
2.13
|
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ONGOING TP VOL 01
|
$17.99
|
IDW
|
2,672
|
11
|
1.84
|
CARNAGE FAMILY FEUD TP
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
2,308
|
12
|
1.74
|
HELLBLAZER PHANTOM PAINS TP (MR)
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
2,182
|
13
|
1.73
|
BLEACH TP VOL 38
|
$9.99
|
VIZ
|
2,170
|
14
|
1.71
|
IZOMBIE TP VOL 03 SIX FEET UNDER AND RISING (MR)
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
2,145
|
15
|
1.7
|
X-MEN PRELUDE TO SCHISM TP
|
$14.99
|
MAR
|
2,132
|
16
|
1.66
|
UNCANNY X-FORCE DARK ANGEL SAGA PREM HC BOOK 02
|
$24.99
|
MAR
|
2,082
|
17
|
1.65
|
STAR WARS JEDI VOL 01 DARK SIDE TP
|
$18.99
|
DAR
|
2,070
|
18
|
1.6
|
FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN TP VOL 01
|
$15.99
|
MAR
|
2,007
|
19
|
1.54
|
FABLES DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 04 (MR)
|
$29.99
|
DC
|
1,932
|
20
|
1.52
|
SUPERIOR PREM HC
|
$24.99
|
MAR
|
1,907
|
21
|
1.51
|
ANNIHILATORS TP
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
1,894
|
22
|
1.48
|
SUPERMAN THE BLACK RING TP VOL 01
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
1,856
|
23
|
1.47
|
PUNISHER BY GREG RUCKA PREM HC VOL 01
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
1,844
|
24
|
1.44
|
DAREDEVIL REBORN TP
|
$16.99
|
MAR
|
1,806
|
25
|
1.42
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (NEW PTG)
|
$14.99
|
IMA
|
1,781
|
26
|
1.41
|
ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN BY BENDIS PREM HC VOL 01
|
$24.99
|
MAR
|
1,769
|
27
|
1.35
|
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 08 UNFIXABLE
|
$15.99
|
MAR
|
1,693
|
28
|
1.32
|
NEGIMA GN VOL 33 (MR)
|
$10.99
|
RAN
|
1,656
|
29
|
1.3
|
SUPERMAN REIGN OF DOOMSDAY HC
|
$22.99
|
DC
|
1,631
|
30
|
1.28
|
STAR WARS LONG TIME AGO OMNIBUS TP VOL 05
|
$24.99
|
DAR
|
1,606
|
31
|
1.28
|
GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD TP VOL 01 (MR)
|
$19.99
|
DE
|
1,606
|
32
|
1.28
|
KING CONAN THE SCARLET CITADEL TP
|
$14.99
|
DAR
|
1,606
|
33
|
1.27
|
X-FORCE NECROSHA TP
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
1,593
|
34
|
1.26
|
POWER GIRL OLD FRIENDS TP
|
$19.99
|
DC
|
1,580
|
35
|
1.24
|
SHOWCASE PRESENTS GHOSTS TP VOL 01
|
$19.99
|
DC
|
1,555
|
36
|
1.19
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS
|
$14.99
|
IMA
|
1,493
|
37
|
1.18
|
LOEG BLACK DOSSIER HC 2ND PTG
|
$29.99
|
DC
|
1,480
|
38
|
1.15
|
INVINCIBLE ULTIMATE COLL HC VOL 07
|
$39.99
|
IMA
|
1,442
|
39
|
1.14
|
GANTZ TP VOL 21
|
$12.99
|
DAR
|
1,430
|
40
|
1.14
|
SANDMAN TP VOL 08 WORLDS END (MR)
|
$19.99
|
DC
|
1,430
|
41
|
1.14
|
CAPTAIN AMERICA PRISONER OF WAR TP
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
1,430
|
42
|
1.13
|
ASSASSINS CREED THE FALL TP (MR)
|
$18.99
|
UBI
|
1,417
|
43
|
1.12
|
YU-GI-OH 5DS GN VOL 02
|
$9.99
|
VIZ
|
1,405
|
44
|
1.12
|
AVENGERS OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 JRJR CVR
|
$99.99
|
MAR
|
1,405
|
45
|
1.1
|
SONIC UNIVERSE TP VOL 02 30 YEARS LATER
|
$11.99
|
ARC
|
1,380
|
46
|
1.09
|
JOHN ROMITA AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ARTIST ED HC
|
IDW
|
1,367
|
|
47
|
1.08
|
ULT COMICS ULTIMATES BY HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 01
|
$24.99
|
MAR
|
1,355
|
48
|
1.06
|
X-MEN LEGACY NECROSHA TP
|
$15.99
|
MAR
|
1,330
|
49
|
1.04
|
MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 08
|
$59.99
|
MAR
|
1,304
|
50
|
1.01
|
NEW AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS TP VOL 02
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
1,267
|
51
|
1.01
|
AVENGERS ORIGIN TP
|
$14.99
|
MAR
|
1,267
|
52
|
1.01
|
SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC SPIDER-MAN TP
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
1,267
|
53
|
1
|
ASTONISHING X-MEN WHEDON CASSADAY ULT COLL TP BOOK 01
|
$29.99
|
MAR
|
1,254
|
54
|
1
|
XOMBI TP
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
1,254
|
55
|
1
|
WOLVERINE AND CAPTAIN AMERICA TP
|
$14.99
|
MAR
|
1,254
|
56
|
0.99
|
DEADMAN TP VOL 02
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
1,242
|
57
|
0.99
|
UNCANNY X-FORCE TP VOL 01 APOCALYPSE SOLUTION
|
$15.99
|
MAR
|
1,242
|
58
|
0.98
|
MARVEL ZOMBIES SUPREME TP
|
$16.99
|
MAR
|
1,229
|
59
|
0.97
|
ARTIFACTS TP VOL 03
|
$19.99
|
IMA
|
1,217
|
60
|
0.97
|
MEGA MAN TP VOL 02 TIME KEEPS SLIPPING
|
$11.99
|
ARC
|
1,217
|
61
|
0.96
|
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DIGEST GN PINEAPPLE & OTHER
|
$6.99
|
APE
|
1,204
|
62
|
0.96
|
BAKUMAN TP VOL 09
|
$9.99
|
VIZ
|
1,204
|
63
|
0.95
|
SOUL EATER TP VOL 08
|
$11.99
|
HAC
|
1,192
|
64
|
0.95
|
BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
1,192
|
65
|
0.95
|
BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP
|
$24.99
|
DC
|
1,192
|
66
|
0.94
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE (MR)
|
$14.99
|
IMA
|
1,179
|
67
|
0.92
|
AVENGERS HAWKEYE TP
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
1,154
|
68
|
0.92
|
A TALE OF SAND HC
|
$29.95
|
ARA
|
1,154
|
69
|
0.91
|
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA MONUMENT POINT TP
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
1,141
|
70
|
0.91
|
GATE 7 TP VOL 02
|
$10.99
|
DAR
|
1,141
|
71
|
0.91
|
JOHN CARTER A PRINCESS OF MARS TP
|
$14.99
|
MAR
|
1,141
|
72
|
0.9
|
IRON MAN 2.0 TP VOL 02 ASYMMETRY
|
$14.99
|
MAR
|
1,129
|
73
|
0.9
|
WATCHMEN TP
|
$19.99
|
DC
|
1,129
|
74
|
0.9
|
X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE OMNIBUS HC
|
$125.00
|
MAR
|
1,129
|
75
|
0.9
|
BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 06
|
$9.99
|
VIZ
|
1,129
|
76
|
0.9
|
STAND NIGHT HAS COME PREM HC
|
$24.99
|
MAR
|
1,129
|
77
|
0.89
|
XXXHOLIC GN VOL 19
|
$10.99
|
RAN
|
1,116
|
78
|
0.89
|
FEAR ITSELF UNCANNY X-MEN PREM HC
|
$19.99
|
MAR
|
1,116
|
79
|
0.87
|
AVENGERS BIG THREE TP
|
$29.99
|
MAR
|
1,091
|
80
|
0.85
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE (MR)
|
$14.99
|
IMA
|
1,066
|
81
|
0.85
|
EXPLORER THE MYSTERY BOXES SC
|
$10.95
|
ABR
|
1,066
|
82
|
0.85
|
VENGEANCE HC
|
$24.99
|
MAR
|
1,066
|
83
|
0.84
|
PIGS TP VOL 01 HELLO CRUEL WORLD (MR)
|
$12.99
|
IMA
|
1,054
|
84
|
0.83
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 14 NO WAY OUT (MR)
|
$14.99
|
IMA
|
1,041
|
85
|
0.82
|
HACK SLASH TP VOL 10 DEAD CELEBRITIES
|
$16.99
|
IMA
|
1,029
|
86
|
0.81
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR)
|
$14.99
|
IMA
|
1,016
|
87
|
0.81
|
FABLES TP VOL 16 SUPER TEAM (MR)
|
$14.99
|
DC
|
1,016
|
88
|
0.8
|
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DIGEST GN BERRY SCARY STORM
|
$6.99
|
APE
|
1,003
|
89
|
0.8
|
AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 01 PROMISE PART 1
|
$10.99
|
DAR
|
1,003
|
90
|
0.79
|
FABLES TP VOL 01 LEGENDS IN EXILE
|
$12.99
|
DC
|
991
|
91
|
0.79
|
WALLY WOOD EC STORIES ARTIST ED HC
|
IDW
|
991
|
|
92
|
0.79
|
NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 19
|
$12.99
|
VIZ
|
991
|
93
|
0.78
|
DC UNIVERSE SECRET ORIGINS HC
|
$39.99
|
DC
|
978
|
94
|
0.77
|
POKEMON ADVENTURES PLATINUM GN VOL 04
|
$7.99
|
VIZ
|
966
|
95
|
0.77
|
CHRONICLES OF KULL TP VOL 05 DEAD MEN O/T DEEP & OTHER STORI
|
$18.99
|
DAR
|
966
|
96
|
0.77
|
TORSO GN HC (MR)
|
$24.99
|
MAR
|
966
|
97
|
0.76
|
WITCHBLADE REDEMPTION TP VOL 04
|
$19.99
|
IMA
|
953
|
98
|
0.76
|
KEY OF Z TP VOL 01 (MR)
|
$14.99
|
BOO
|
953
|
99
|
0.76
|
V FOR VENDETTA TP (MR)
|
$19.99
|
DC
|
953
|
100
|
0.76
|
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 10 WHAT WE BECOME
|
$14.99
|
IMA
|
953
|
Gates of Gotham takes first place for February, although that doesn’t seem like a particularly large number for the top book of the month. Author Scott Snyder does seem to do alright for the month with Gates, American Vampire and Batman: The Black Mirror all in the top 10. Don’t call him Geoff Johns 2.0.
IDW does nicely with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the #10 spot. As always, a lot of Robert Kirkman book in the top 100, but you already knew those were going to be there. Four X-Force volumes, too, as it continues to establish it’s own place under the x-umbrella.
“Gates of Gotham takes first place for February, although that doesn’t seem like a particularly large number for the top book of the month.”
It’s long been a belief that the readers of digital comics would come primarily from the weekly/monthly comic book crowd, but these figures, and the lack of any real change to the monthly sales figures, seem to be indicating that the digital comic readership is made up primarily from those who had previously been trade readers.
Which make sense when the time lag between monthly and collection is taken into consideration (with Gates of Gotham having been available to read in its entirety since the end of August 2011) as well as the ability to read a single issue/part at a reduced fee (if the reader is willing to wait a month) to see if they like the story without the expense of buying an entire trade paperback.
The proof (or otherwise) of this theory will come in a month or so when the first of the DC Nu52 collections are released.
Kind of surprised that Showcase Presents: GHOSTS is in there, I thought I was the only one waiting on that ha.