Tag: Sales Charts

We often wonder what writer/industry analyst John Jackson Miller does for fun. Is it really crunching sales charts? Looking at his extensive 2012 Comic Book Sales Figures round-up, it doesn't seem to be anything else. The above link will give you his estimates of the top 100 comics and graphic novels for 2012. Here's his analysis of these charts. Including this interesting metric:

While the Marvel Now! relaunch programme got under way in October, November saw it in full swing, with the first issue of ALL-NEW X-MEN, new creative teams (and new numbering) on HULK, IRON MAN, THOR, CAPTAIN AMERICA, X-MEN LEGACY, FANTASTIC FOUR and FF, and a new direction for JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY. With all the issue #1s supported by extensive promotion, the chart is turned upside down. You won't be surprised to hear that this gives Marvel the largest share of the North American direct market in November, leading DC by 40% to 33% in units and a rather closer 34% to 30% in dollars.

Marvel maintained its top publisher spot in both inits and dollars for December, as Diamond released preliminary charts for last month. The Marvel Now books made up 6 out of the top 10 comics, topped by the final issue of Amazing Spiderman. DC's Batman titles had a strong showing, however. Over in graphic novels, Image pretty much crushed it, not just with The Walking Dead but strong showings for Saga, Chew and Fatale as well, making for one of its strongest monthly shares in a while.

Here's the top 500 selling graphic novels of 20912 courtesy of Diamond. We'll have more analysis later but Marvel's top GN was THANOS QUEST #1 coming in at #31, which is petty mind boggling. The Saga trade was #12, Watchmen #14. Otherwise it was all Walking Dead and New 52. Dark Horse's best seller was AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 01 PROMISE PART 1 at #34, another sign that kids comics are on the ascendant.

Diamond released its preliminary year-end data for 2012 today, and it wasn't a big surprise. The Walking Dead #100 was the top selling comics of the year, and the first Wlaking Dead trade toped the GN charts. Marvel was the top publishers over DC. Sales were up for the year; even graphic novels, which had lagged at times because of the Borders debacle, ended up in double digits point over 2011. Comics sales overall were up nearly 15%—a healthy growth margin that reflects all the good things we'e been talking about.

Colleen Doran spills the beans gives some metrics on what everyone knows—Nielsen's Bookscan Numbers are way low. Especially, it seems, where comics are concerned. She cites several books she has worked on, comparing her royalty statements and Bookscan numbers:

For you number-lovers out there, and we know you are out there, here's something a bit more speculative but still interesting. Retailer Matt Blind...

It has somehow escaped our attention until this very moment that Deadline has been running ratings charts for all those YouTube channels that have...

While we don't know numbers for digital comics sales, you can always grab a snapshot at the iTunes bookstore. And pre-Wednesday, it's all WALKING...

Marvel NOW! debuts handily took 8 of the top 10 spots on the sales charts for November, just released by Diamond. Overall sales are...

As expected, DC Comics's average and total comic-book unit sales were dropping again in October, in the wake of September's zero-issue stunt. To be fair, though, it's not a huge drop, and viewed over the last four months, the publisher's averages continue to look sturdy. Thanks to a new round of crossovers -- notably "Death of the Family" in the Batman line and "Rise of the Third Army" in the Green Lantern line -- and Annuals, as well as continually strong sales from the expanding line of "digital-first" compilation titles, the pertinent figures remain well within the spectrum that's been established following last year's relaunch.

After September's virtual hiatus, October saw Marvel emerge from crossover season and hit the ground running. AVENGERS VS X-MEN wraps up, while Marvel Now gets underway with the debut issues of UNCANNY AVENGERS and A PLUS X. On top of that, there's AVX: CONSEQUENCES, the MARVEL NOW: POINT ONE one-shot, a new ongoing series with WOLVERINE: MAX, the "Minimum Carnage" crossover, and more. Given all that, it's no surprise that Marvel had the biggest share of the North American direct market, leading DC by 40% to 34% in units and 35% to 32% in dollars.