I’ll post John Jackson Miller’s analysis when it comes in, but sales for the year inched up, although down from Five Wednesday July. Image had more than 10% of unit sales, always a good mark for them.
And sales analyst Miller weighs in pointing out this was the first “Normal” month in a while.
After a summer of “bombshell” covers, anniversary covers, high-profile relaunches, and giant purchases by online retailers, August appears to have been something more resembling a generic month in the comics industry. Comic-book retailers purchased more than $41 million in comic books, trade paperbacks, and magazines in August 2014, according Comichron’s analysis of data released today by Diamond Comic Distributors. Dollar sales for the month were up 7.6% year over year, bringing annual sales to $344 million, up nearly 3% over 2013.
July’s sales, the highest recorded dollar amount paid for comics and graphic novels in the seventeen-year long Diamond Exclusive Era, were boosted in part by a fifth week to the month, by the addition of thousands of Rocket Raccoon #1 copies bought by Loot Crate, and by DC’s Batman 75th Anniversary covers, among other things. August’s sales appear to have returned to a more regular pattern, with Batman#34 taking the top slot.
Batman hunts a killer lurking in the shadows of Gotham City in Scott Snyder and Matteo Scalera’s Batman #34 from DC Entertainment, the best-selling comic book of August 2014 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics had five titles among August’s top ten best-selling comics, led by Amazing Spider-Man #5 at #2. DC Entertainment placed four titles in the top ten. Image Comics had one title, The Walking Dead #130 at #6.
Marvel Comics was August’s top publisher with a 34.27% dollar market share and a 35.85% unit market share. DC Entertainment was second with a 28.71% dollar share and 32.56% unit share. Image Comics was third with a 8.83% dollar share and a 10.97% unit share. IDW Publishing’s dollar share in August was fourth at 5.43% and Dark Horse Comics was fifth at 4.73%.
Jim Starlin returns to his signature character Thanos in the original graphic novel, Thanos: The Infinity Revelation from Marvel Comics, August’s best-selling graphic novel and one of the publisher’s three books among the top ten. DC Entertainment had four titles in the top led, led by Fables Volume 20: Camelot at #2. Additionally, all three volumes of Image Comics’ Saga placed among the top ten.
The second volume of Jeffrey Brown’s young readers Star Wars series, Star Wars: Jedi Academy: The Return of the Padawan from Chronicle Books was August’s best-selling book. Also in the top ten were IDW Publishing’s Dave Gibbons: The Watchmen Artifact Edition at #2, Dark Horse Comics’ Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia at #3, and Gemstone’s The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 44 remained in the top ten at #4.
The X-Men and their foes, including Wolverine and Magneto, were sculpted in the 6-inch scale for Hasbro’s X-Men Legends Action Figures, August’s best-selling toy product. DC Collectibles had eight of top ten toy products for the month, led by the Batman: Arkham Asylum: Harley Quinn Statue at #2. Diamond Select Toys’ best-selling product for August was the Godzilla 1989 Vinyl Bust Bank at #17.
The cosmic heroes of Marvel Comics’ Guardians of the Galaxy comic book are featured in NECA/WizKids’ Marvel Heroclix: Guardians of the Galaxy Booster Brick, August’s best-selling game product, and one of the manufacturer’s five titles in the top ten.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR
SHARE |
UNIT
SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 34.27% | 35.85% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 28.71% | 32.56% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 8.83% | 10.97% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 5.43% | 4.67% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.73% | 4.03% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.59% | 2.40% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.32% | 2.14% |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.65% | 0.43% |
| RANDOM HOUSE | 1.14% | 0.38% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.04% | 0.42% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 9.28% | 6.17% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTAL
SHIPPED |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 85 | 22 | 1 | 108 |
| MARVEL COMICS | 78 | 29 | 0 | 107 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 63 | 5 | 0 | 68 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 42 | 17 | 0 | 59 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 36 | 18 | 0 | 54 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 25 | 12 | 0 | 37 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 23 | 9 | 0 | 32 |
| RANDOM HOUSE | 1 | 27 | 0 | 28 |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 0 | 0 | 25 | 25 |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 98 | 117 | 21 | 236 |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| AUGUST 2014 VS. JULY 2014 | ||
| COMICS | -23.77% | -22.73% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -22.06% | -20.96% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -23.26% | -22.60% |
| AUGUST 2014 VS. AUGUST 2013 | ||
| COMICS | 7.30% | 4.20% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 8.31% | 9.95% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 7.60% | 4.63% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2014 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2013 | ||
| COMICS | 2.40% | -2.32% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 3.81% | 5.79% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.84% | -1.69% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BATMAN #34 | $3.99 | JUN140215-M | DC |
| 2 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #5 | $3.99 | JUN140613-M | MAR |
| 3 | ORIGINAL SIN #7 | $3.99 | JUN140605-M | MAR |
| 4 | MULTIVERSITY #1 | $4.99 | JUN140145-M | DC |
| 5 | SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #32 | $4.99 | JUN140643-M | MAR |
| 6 | THE WALKING DEAD #130 (MR) | $2.99 | JUN140586 | IMA |
| 7 | HARLEY QUINN #9 | $2.99 | JUN140228-M | DC |
| 8 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.4 | $3.99 | JUN140645-M | MAR |
| 9 | GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #18 | $3.99 | JUN140622-M | MAR |
| 10 | BATMAN ETERNAL #18 | $2.99 | JUN140207 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THANOS: THE INFINITY REVELATION OGN HC | $24.99 | APR140765 | MAR |
| 2 | FABLES VOLUME 20: CAMELOT TP (MR) | $19.99 | MAY140403 | DC |
| 3 | DEADPOOL VS. CARNAGE TP | $16.99 | MAY140932 | MAR |
| 4 | TRILLIUM TP (MR) | $16.99 | MAY140407 | DC |
| 5 | BATMAN: EARTH-ONE TP | $12.99 | MAY140376 | DC |
| 6 | GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 1: COSMIC AVENGERS TP | $19.99 | JAN140800 | MAR |
| 7 | SAGA VOLUME 3 TP (MR) | $14.99 | JAN140556 | IMA |
| 8 | WATCHMEN HC | $39.99 | JUL080172 | DC |
| 9 | SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | AUG120491 | IMA |
| 10 | SAGA VOLUME 2 TP (MR) | $14.99 | APR130443 | IMA |
TOP 10 BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | STAR WARS: JEDI ACADEMY VOLUME 2: RETURN OF THE PADAWAN HC | $12.99 | MAY141839 | SCH |
| 2 | DAVE GIBBONS: WATCHMEN ARTIFACT EDITION HC | $75.00 | APR140347 | IDW |
| 3 | LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC | $34.99 | SEP120055 | DAR |
| 4 | THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOL. 44 SC | $29.95 | APR141239-M | GEM |
| 5 | THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 86 SC | $14.95 | JUN141674 | SAN |
| 6 | DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 76 SC | $14.95 | MAY141830 | SAN |
| 7 | JIM HENSON’S THE STORYTELLER HC | $19.99 | JUN140971 | BOO |
| 8 | THE BOUNTY HUNTER CODE: REVELATIONS OF BOBA FETT HC | $19.95 | JUN141675 | CHR |
| 9 | SWORD ART ONLINE VOLUME 2: AINCRAD SC | $13.00 | JUN141575 | HAC |
| 10 | THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: BATTLE OF THE SUPER-HEROES SC | $3.95 | JUN141629 | CAP |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | X-MEN LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES | MAR148025 | HAS |
| 2 | BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM: HARLEY QUINN STATUE | FEB140310 | DC |
| 3 | DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: STARGIRL STATUE | FEB140309 | DC |
| 4 | DC COMICS: THE NEW 52: RED HOOD ACTION FIGURE | FEB140306 | DC |
| 5 | DC COMICS: THE NEW 52: EARTH-2 BATMAN ACTION FIGURE | MAR140310 | DC |
| 6 | DC COMICS: THE NEW 52: STARFIRE ACTION FIGURE | FEB140307 | DC |
| 7 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES CLASSIC COLLECTOR FIGURES | MAY142439 | PLA |
| 8 | DC COMICS: THE NEW 52: ARSENAL ACTION FIGURE | FEB140308 | DC |
| 9 | DC COMICS: THE NEW 52: EARTH-2 SUPERMAN ACTION FIGURE | MAR140308 | DC |
| 10 | ARKHAM ASYLUM: THE JOKER/HARLEY QUINN/BATMAN/THE SCARECROW ACTION FIGURE 4-PACK | MAR140312 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY COMIC BOOSTER BRICK | JUN142657 | NEC |
| 2 | DC HEROCLIX: WAR OF LIGHT BOOSTER BRICK WAVE 2 | MAY142842 | NEC |
| 3 | MONOPOLY: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION | OCT128266 | USA |
| 4 | DUNGEONS & DRAGONS MINIATURES SET ONE | APR142391 | NEC |
| 5 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY COMIC BOOSTERS | JUN142656 | NEC |
| 6 | RISK LEGACY | JUN118204 | HAS |
| 7 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: INHUMANS FAST FORCES PACK | JUN142659 | NEC |
| 8 | MUNCHKIN ADVENTURE TIME | JUN142638 | PSI |
| 9 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MONOPOLY | APR142388 | USA |
| 10 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2015 CORE SET INTRO DECKS | JUN142652 | WIZ |
Jedi Academy should be classified as a graphic novel.
Sure, it’s a diary novel, but the entire book is comics, with the occasional text inserted as diary entries, newsletters, web pages, and class schedules.
170 pages… 77 text-centric pages. I wonder if there’s an index attached to it to calculate/compare sales for graphic novels?
This issue of Batman was terrific. Scalera for the win.
top 300s are out too, I think early
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/29603.html
Boy, ROCKET RACCOON really didn’t hold those first issue sales, down over 80%. I’m shocked…
A Rocket Raccoon book sold over 56k issues to the direct market. In what world is that a failure?
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