To the surprise of probably zero people, Marvel had a chart topping month in August, according to sales charts just released by Diamond Comics Distributors. Maybe to some surprise Marvel #1000 wasn’t the #1 book – in units anyway. That honor went to Absolute Carnage #1, the Donny Cates/Ryan Stegman production that has everyone talking. The $9.99 Marvel #1000 was #1 in dollars however. Marvel blitzed the periodical charts with various issues of HoX/PoX, while DC’s Batman/Superman #1 was their biggest seller.
In graphic novels, The Walking Dead was once again #1 in units – for the last time, as Volume 32 wrapped up the series. Sniff. The Batman who Laughs and Harley Quinn Breaking Glass were #2 and #3.
I’d like to note that Action Lab’s Ladybug series once again charted, as did the latest release in TokyoPop’s Descendents adaptation. That’s three young reader/YA titles in the top ten IN COMICS SHOPS.
For deeper analysis I direct you to John Jackson Miller, as always. The year continues to be flat, although August 2018 was a five-week month, and August 2019 was not, so the drop is partly because of that. But as Miller notes, both DC and Image are putting out fewer titles every month. Miller writes:
So we find that after a $45 million month, things are basically still flat for 2019 so far, with retailer orders through Diamond standing at nearly $343 million year-to-date, down less than $1 million from the same eight months in 2018. The largest shortfall in the month by far was in graphic novels, down 20% in dollars versus last August; there was a major sale of graphic novels that month, with many deep discounts. The calendar certainly played a role, as 10% fewer new graphic novels were released.
But it’s also reasonable to speculate that the big-ticket comics had the effect of drawing dollars away from the category; all but two of the top ten comics by units were priced at $4.99 or above. There’s a good chance of record-breaking average cover prices once the full estimates are reported.
Any rise in dollar trends had to be weighed against the rise in cover prices.
Going back to Marvel #1000 vs Absolute Carnage, while it’s surprising to see an all-star gala issue not rule the chart, Cates’ Venomverse is red hot at the moment. I’ll be interested to see the sell-in estimates on Monday for sure.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
|
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS |
46.15% |
49.96% |
| DC |
24.86% |
25.96% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
6.32% |
6.26% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
4.00% |
4.18% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
3.27% |
2.65% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
2.51% |
2.13% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.50% |
2.34% |
| VIZ MEDIA |
1.33% |
0.53% |
| TITAN COMICS |
0.72% |
0.64% |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT |
0.53% |
0.56% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
7.81% |
4.79% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
AUGUST 2019 VS. JULY 2019 |
||
| COMICS |
-6.01% |
-9.70% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-5.13% |
0.26% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-5.78% |
-9.06% |
| TOYS |
-21.40% |
-20.06% |
|
AUGUST 2019 VS. AUGUST 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
0.64% |
-4.44% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-20.11% |
-21.96% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-5.76% |
-5.94% |
| TOYS |
-9.65% |
11.91% |
|
YEAR TO DATE 2019 VS. YEAR TO DATE 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
0.92% |
-4.37% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-3.24% |
-8.55% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-0.26% |
-4.68% |
| TOYS |
24.37% |
31.96% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
|
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS |
88 |
42 |
0 |
130 |
| DC |
64 |
27 |
1 |
92 |
| IMAGE COMICS |
47 |
9 |
0 |
56 |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
32 |
12 |
0 |
44 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
21 |
18 |
0 |
39 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
19 |
15 |
0 |
34 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
17 |
7 |
0 |
24 |
| VIZ MEDIA |
0 |
21 |
0 |
21 |
| TITAN COMICS |
8 |
6 |
1 |
15 |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT |
7 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
128 |
169 |
22 |
319 |
| TOTAL |
431 |
328 |
24 |
783 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #1 |
$7.99 |
JUN190761-M | MAR |
|
2 |
MARVEL COMICS #1000 |
$9.99 |
JUN190842-M | MAR |
|
3 |
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #1 [*] |
$3.99 |
JUN190450-M | DC |
|
4 |
HOUSE OF X #3 |
$4.99 |
JUN190821-M | MAR |
|
5 |
POWERS OF X #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190828-M | MAR |
|
6 |
HOUSE OF X #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190814-M | MAR |
|
7 |
POWERS OF X #3 |
$4.99 |
JUN190835-M | MAR |
|
8 |
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190775-M | MAR |
|
9 |
BATMAN #77 |
$3.99 |
JUN190479-M | DC |
|
10 |
BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190457-M | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
MARVEL COMICS #1000 |
$9.99 |
JUN190842-M | MAR |
|
2 |
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #1 |
$7.99 |
JUN190761-M | MAR |
|
3 |
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #1 [*] |
$3.99 |
JUN190450-M | DC |
|
4 |
SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE #2 (MR) [*] |
$7.99 |
JUN190465-M | DC |
|
5 |
POWERS OF X #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190828-M | MAR |
|
6 |
HOUSE OF X #3 |
$4.99 |
JUN190821-M | MAR |
|
7 |
HOUSE OF X #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190814-M | MAR |
|
8 |
POWERS OF X #3 |
$4.99 |
JUN190835-M | MAR |
|
9 |
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190775-M | MAR |
|
10 |
BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #2 |
$4.99 |
JUN190457-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 32 TP |
$16.99 |
JUN190045 | IMA |
|
2 |
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS HC |
$29.99 |
JUN190568 | DC |
|
3 |
HARLEY QUINN: BREAKING GLASS TP |
$16.99 |
APR190434 | DC |
|
4 |
WATCHMEN TP |
$24.99 |
JUN190614-M | DC |
|
5 |
WAR OF THE REALMS TP |
$29.99 |
MAY190956 | MAR |
|
6 |
MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. DECLASSIFIED SLIPCASE HC |
$49.99 |
APR140762 | MAR |
|
7 |
STAR WARS: VADER: DARK VISIONS TP |
$15.99 |
MAY190975 | MAR |
|
8 |
MIRACULOUS: TALES OF LADYBUG AND CAT NOIR SEASON 2 VOL. 4: NO EVIL DOING TP |
$8.99 |
SEP181357 | ACT |
|
9 |
DISNEY DESCENDANTS: EVIE’S WICKED RUNWAY VOL. 2 TP |
$15.99 |
FEB192149 | TOK |
|
10 |
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 1: FINAL GAUNTLET TP |
$17.99 |
MAY190960 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 32 TP |
$16.99 |
JUN190045 | IMA |
|
2 |
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS HC |
$29.99 |
JUN190568 | DC |
|
3 |
SAGA COMPENDIUM VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$59.99 |
MAY190044 | IMA |
|
4 |
WAR OF THE REALMS TP |
$29.99 |
MAY190956 | MAR |
|
5 |
THE JOKER: THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS HC |
$99.99 |
DEC180652 | DC |
|
6 |
WATCHMEN TP |
$24.99 |
JUN190614-M | DC |
|
7 |
MARVEL MASTERS OF SUSPENSE: LEE & DITKO OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 HC |
$100.00 |
FEB190976 | MAR |
|
8 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: HUNTED TP |
$39.99 |
MAY190964 | MAR |
|
9 |
THE BOYS OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$29.99 |
DEC181256-M | DYN |
|
10 |
MISTER MIRACLE HC (MR) |
$34.99 |
JAN198940 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION ART COLLECTION HC |
$39.99 |
JUN192115 | UDO |
|
2 |
MEGA MAN BATTLE NETWORK OFFICIAL COMPLETE WORKS |
$44.99 |
JUN192114 | UDO |
|
3 |
OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOL. 49 SC |
$29.95 |
APR191757-M | GEM |
|
4 |
THE SAGA OF TANYA THE EVIL VOL. 6 SC |
$14.00 |
MAY192174 | YEN |
|
5 |
STAR WARS: REY AND PALS HC |
$14.95 |
JUN191651 | CHR |
|
6 |
CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF ILLUSTRATED NOVEL SC |
$18.00 |
JUN191761 | POC |
|
7 |
SO I’M A SPIDER, SO WHAT? VOL. 6 SC |
$14.00 |
MAY192175 | YEN |
|
8 |
DARK SOULS DESIGN WORKS VOLUME 1 HC |
$39.99 |
AUG131470 | UDO |
|
9 |
THE ART OF DEJAH THORIS & THE WORLDS OF MARS VOL. 2 HC (MR) |
$39.99 |
JAN191259 | DE |
|
10 |
THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL. 143 SC |
$14.95 |
APR191921 | SAN |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC COMICS: SOVEREIGN KNIGHT BATMAN BLUE FIGURE | JUN188303 | MEZ |
|
2 |
POP! DC HEROES: BATMAN DAMNED VINYL FIGURE | DEC188715 | FUN |
|
3 |
POP! DC HEROES: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS VINYL FIGURE | JUN188595 | FUN |
|
4 |
X-FORCE LEGENDS ACTION FIGURES | APR198748 | HAS |
|
5 |
MARVEL LEGENDS GEAR: AVENGERS ENDGAME: POWER GAUNTLET | JAN199285 | HAS |
|
6 |
MARVEL SELECT: PSYLOCKE FIGURE | FEB192448 | DST |
|
7 |
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES: BATCYCLE & FIGURE SET | JAN190709 | DC |
|
8 |
POP! MARVEL: NOVA PRIME VINYL FIGURE | OCT188711 | FUN |
|
9 |
DC DESIGNER SERIES: NIGHTWING BY JIM LEE STATUE | JAN190712 | DC |
|
10 |
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: SKELETOR 1/6-SCALE COLLECTIBLE FIGURE | SEP188638 | MON |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
PATHFINDER CORE RULEBOOK HC (P2) | MAY193227 | PAI |
|
2 |
PATHFINDER BESTIARY HC (P2) | MAY193229 | PAI |
|
3 |
PATHFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: AGE OF ASHES VOL. 1 (P2) | MAY193233 | PAI |
|
4 |
PATHFINDER ADVENTURE: FALL OF PLAGUESTONE (P2) | MAY193232 | PAI |
|
5 |
CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
|
6 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK POCKET EDITION | APR168770 | PAI |
|
7 |
D&D: BALDUR’S GATE: DECENT INTO AVERNUS MINIATURES BRICK | JAN198568 | NEC |
|
8 |
PATHFINDER BESTIARY SPECIAL EDITION HC (P2) | MAY193230 | PAI |
|
9 |
STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
|
10 |
PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK | JUN091729 | PAI |
“That’s three young reader/YA titles in the top ten IN COMICS SHOPS.”
I’m kind of suspicious of the recent top 10 rankings of a few MIRACULOUS and DESCENDANTS volumes in the last few Diamond charts, especially since they seem to only be for a few volumes of long running series (and odd numbers like “Season 2, Volume 4”, not a logical jumping on point). Is there any way of determining whether those are bulk purchases only going to one or a handful of accounts, or more widespread, which would make a difference if they should be reported as sales “IN COMIC SHOPS” all-caps, or just as sales “through Diamond”.
They’re literally the cheapest thing on the chart most months at $8.99 — that seems to be part of it. Not able to detect any deep discounting on them which might indicate a large number of copies going somewhere else; Diamond seems to be getting paid the regular rate for them. (Which doesn’t mean they couldn’t be sold to an outside account at the regular price — but there’s no way to detect that.)
What is Marvel thinking publishing both Carnage and 1000 at the same time? Aren’t they just competing against themselves, and making it more difficult for retailers?
Carnage came out on 8/21, 1000 came out on 8/28, so it isn’t like Marvel is competing with themselves in the same release week. Nor are retailers that overwhelmed trying to stock two big releases in the same week. Local retailers around here rarely order enough extra copies of any new release to last until Friday of the week of release. You don’t get there on Wednesday, you are ordering online from one of the big retailers or scouring eBay for a reasonably priced first printing. The local shops pull list programs are largely unreliable as well. They either under order and you miss out despite having a title on your pull list, or they flat out forget and you simply miss out. I went to mail order for my books years ago and haven’t regretted it. I use the local retailers for supplies only.
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