Diamond Announces Top Products for October 2018

(BALTIMORE, MD) — (November 9, 2018) — Batman pursues the KGBeast to Russia after an attempt on Nightwing’s life in Tom King, Tony S. Daniel, and Danny Miki’s Batman #56 from DC Entertainment, the best-selling comic book of October 2018 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.

Marvel Comics was October’s top publisher with a 34.22% dollar share and a 37.89% unit share. DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 30.48% dollar share and a 32.99% unit share. Image Comics was third with a 12.62% dollar share and a 12.64% unit share. In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 4.03% dollar share and a 3.74% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 3.32% dollar share and a 2.41% unit share, Dynamite Entertainment with a 2.37% dollar share and a 2.06% unit share, and BOOM! Studios with a 1.86% dollar share and a 1.52% unit share.

In total, DC Entertainment had four titles in the top ten. In addition to Batman #56, King and Daniels’ Batman #57 ranked #4; Tom King, Clay Mann, and Travis Moore’s Heroes in Crisis #2 ranked #6; and Scott Snyder and Francis Manapul’s Justice League #10 ranked #8. Image Comics’ The Walking Dead #1 15th-Anniversary Edition, a reprint of the first issue of Robert Kirkman’s legendary zombie comic for October’s Walking Dead Day, ranked #2. Marvel Comics had five titles in the top ten, led by Christos Gage, Dan Slott, and Jorge Molina’s Spider-Geddon #1 at #3; followed by Seanan McGuire and Rosi Kampe’s Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #1 at #5; Donny Cates and Iban Coello’s Venom #7 at #7; Nick Spencer and Humberto Ramos’ Amazing Spider-Man #7 at #9; and Spencer, Ramos, and Victor Olazaba’s Amazing Spider-Man #8 at #10. Among the premier publishers, Dark Horse Comics’ Stranger Things #2, based on the Netflix series, ranked #63; IDW Publishing’s Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams #1, a crossover with DC Entertainment, ranked #64; BOOM! Studios’ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #32 ranked #160; and Dynamite Entertainment’s KISS: Blood and Stardust #1 ranked #216.

Sean Murphy’s Batman: White Knight, a collection of the best-selling DC Entertainment mini-series in which The Joker, reformed, is Gotham City’s hero, was October’s best-selling graphic novel and one of the publisher’s four books in the top ten. Image Comics had five books in the top ten, led by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ original graphic novel My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies at #3. Marvel Comics’ Avengers By Jason Aaron Volume 1: Final Host, a collection of the first story arc of Aaron’s Marvel Legacy run on the title, ranked #9.

UDON Entertainment’s Mega Man: Official Complete Works, a collection of artwork from Capcom’s long-running video game series, was October’s best-selling book. Also of note, Dark Horse Comics’ Super Mario Encyclopedia ranked #3, IDW Publishing’s Bill Sienkiewicz’s Mutants and Moon Knights Artifact Edition ranked #6, and Dynamite Entertainment’s The Art of Troma ranked #9.

Based on their best-selling online team shooter Overwatch, Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch: Mercy 12-Inch Statue was October’s best-selling toy product. Diamond Select Toys had four products in the top ten, led by the Marvel Gallery: Avengers Infinity War: Thor PVC Figure at #2. Funko had two PREVIEWS Exclusive products in the top ten: the POP! Marvel: Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon Comic Vinyl Figure ranked #3, and the POP! Marvel: Guardians of the Galaxy: Star-Lord Classic Vinyl Figure, produced for Halloween ComicFest, ranked #5. DC Collectibles also charted in the top ten; the DC Designer Series: The Trinity by Jason Fabok Statue ranked #6.

Paizo Publishing’s Starfinder RPG: Alien Archive 2, a sourcebook for the space opera role-playing game, was October’s best-selling game product and one of the eight Paizo products among the month’s top ten. Also in the top ten was IDW Games’ Batman: The Animated Series: Gotham Under Siege Game, which ranked #5 for the month.

 

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER

DOLLAR

SHARE

UNIT

SHARE

MARVEL COMICS

34.22%

37.89%

DC ENTERTAINMENT

30.48%

32.99%

IMAGE COMICS

12.62%

12.64%

IDW PUBLISHING

4.03%

3.74%

DARK HORSE COMICS

3.32%

2.41%

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

2.37%

2.06%

BOOM! STUDIOS

1.86%

1.52%

VIZ MEDIA

1.34%

0.48%

TITAN COMICS

0.87%

0.57%

RANDOM HOUSE

0.78%

0.16%

OTHER NON-TOP 10

8.11%

5.55%

 COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

DOLLARS

UNITS

OCTOBER 2018 VS. SEPTEMBER 2018

COMICS

11.93%

11.51%

GRAPHIC NOVELS

3.28%

-0.76%

TOTAL COMICS/GN

9.32%

10.49%

TOYS

19.04%

22.50%

OCTOBER 2018 VS. OCTOBER 2017

COMICS

9.66%

5.33%

GRAPHIC NOVELS

5.30%

14.38%

TOTAL COMICS/GN

8.38%

5.95%

TOYS

21.58%

47.81%

YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017

COMICS

2.13%

-5.56%

GRAPHIC NOVELS

-3.76%

-4.45%

TOTAL COMICS/GN

0.38%

-5.48%

TOYS

-2.16%

-1.15%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER

COMICS SHIPPED

GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED

MAGAZINES SHIPPED

TOTAL

SHIPPED

MARVEL COMICS

95

41

0

136

DC ENTERTAINMENT

78

38

1

117

IMAGE COMICS

78

24

0

102

IDW PUBLISHING

34

16

0

50

DARK HORSE COMICS

23

20

0

43

BOOM! STUDIOS

26

14

0

40

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

27

9

0

36

VIZ MEDIA

0

26

0

26

TITAN COMICS

12

12

1

25

ARCHIE COMICS

11

4

0

15

OTHER NON-TOP 10

142

236

36

414

TOTAL

526

440

38

1004

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

BATMAN #56

$3.99

AUG180501-M DC

2

THE WALKING DEAD #1 15TH-ANNIVERSARY EDITION

$2.99

JUL188116-M IMA

3

SPIDER-GEDDON #1

$3.99

AUG180842-M MAR

4

BATMAN #57

$3.99

AUG180503-M DC

5

SPIDER-GWEN: GHOST-SPIDER #1

$3.99

AUG180854-M MAR

6

HEROES IN CRISIS #2

$3.99

AUG180462-M DC

7

VENOM #7

$3.99

AUG180979-M MAR

8

JUSTICE LEAGUE #10

$3.99

AUG180480-M DC

9

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #7

$3.99

AUG180971-M MAR

10

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8

$3.99

AUG180975-M MAR

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

BATMAN #56

$3.99

AUG180501-M DC

2

SPIDER-GEDDON #1

$3.99

AUG180842-M MAR

3

VENOM #7

$3.99

AUG180979-M MAR

4

BATMAN #57

$3.99

AUG180503-M DC

5

VENOM ANNUAL #1

$4.99

AUG180977 MAR

6

SPIDER-GWEN: GHOST-SPIDER #1

$3.99

AUG180854-M MAR

7

HEROES IN CRISIS #2

$3.99

AUG180462-M DC

8

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #7

$3.99

AUG180971-M MAR

9

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8

$3.99

AUG180975-M MAR

10

JUSTICE LEAGUE #10

$3.99

AUG180480-M DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT TP

$19.99

JUL180733 DC

2

WONDER WOMAN EARTH ONE VOLUME 2 HC

$24.99

JUL180591 DC

3

MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES HC (MR)

$16.99

JUL180133 IMA

4

BATMAN VOLUME 7: THE WEDDING TP

$16.99

JUL180717 DC

5

GIDEON FALLS VOLUME 1: BLACK BARN TP (MR)

$9.99

AUG180153-M IMA

6

ISOLA VOLUME 1 TP

$9.99

JUL180153-M IMA

7

THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOLUME 7 TP (MR)

$17.99

AUG180194 IMA

8

DEATH OR GLORY VOLUME 1 TP (MR)

$16.99

AUG180126-M IMA

9

AVENGERS BY JASON AARON VOLIME 1: FINAL HOST TP

$17.99

JUL181176-M MAR

10

BATMAN & THE JUSTICE LEAGUE MANGA VOLUME 1 TP

$12.99

JUN180436 DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

WONDER WOMAN: EARTH ONE VOLUME 2 HC

$24.99

JUL180591 DC

2

BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT TP

$19.99

JUL180733 DC

3

MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES HC (MR)

$16.99

JUL180133 IMA

4

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY MICHELINIE & MCFARLANE OMNIBUS HC

$100.00

APR180851 MAR

5

THE WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM 15TH ANNV BOX SET

$200.00

APR188923 IMA

6

BATMAN VOLUME 7: THE WEDDING TP

$16.99

JUL180717 DC

7

THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOLUME 7 TP (MR)

$17.99

AUG180194 IMA

8

X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN: SECOND GENESIS TP

$29.99

JUL181178 MAR

9

TOMB OF DRACULA OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 HC

$100.00

APR180852 MAR

10

MARVELOCITY: THE MARVEL COMIC ART OF ALEX ROSS HC

$50.00

JUL182072 PAN

TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

MEGA MAN: OFFICIAL COMPLETE WORKS TP

$39.99

AUG182411 UDO

2

THE YEAR’S BEST DARK FANTASY & HORROR 2018

$19.95

FEB188260 PRI

3

SUPER MARIO ENCYCLOPEDIA HC

$39.99

JUN180310 DAR

4

DARK SOULS II: DESIGN WORKS HC

$49.99

AUG151751 UDO

5

OKAMI: OFFICIAL COMPLETE WORKS SC

$39.99

MAY073783 UDO

6

BILL SIENKIEWICZ: MUTANTS & MOON KNIGHTS ARTIFACT EDITION HC

$90.00

APR180447 IDW

7

BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE NOVEL HC

$24.95

JUL182219 TTN

8

LULU IS A RHINOCEROS

$16.99

FEB188267 WIC

9

ART OF TROMA HC (MR)

$34.99

JUL181247 DE

10

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 135

$14.95

AUG182175 SAN

TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

OVERWATCH: MERCY 12-INCH STATUE MAR188055 BLI

2

MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: THOR PVC FIGURE APR182164 DST

3

POP! MARVEL: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: COMIC ROCKET RACCOON CLASSIC VINYL FIGURE APR188340 FUN

4

DC GALLERY: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS PVC FIGURE MAY182303 DST

5

POP! MARVEL: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: STAR-LORD CLASSIC HALLOWEEN COMIC FEST 2018 VINYL FIGURE APR188339 FUN

6

DC DESIGNER SERIRES: TRINITY BY JASON FABOK STATUE MAR180386 DC

7

MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: BLACK WIDOW PVC FIGURE APR182160 DST

8

MARVEL GALLERY: WOLVERINE COMIC PVC FIGURE APR182171 DST

9

THE IRON GIANT DIECAST 1/12 SCALE ACTION FIGURE JAN188313 100

10

VENOM LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES JUL178802 HAS

TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

STARFINDER RPG: ALIEN ARCHIVE 2 HC AUG183177 PAI

2

CREATURE CODEX HC JUL183073 PAI

3

MARVEL HEROCLIX: SECRET WARS BOOSTER BRICK JUN182958 NEC

4

PATHFINDER RPG ADVANCED RACE GUIDE POCKET EDITION AUG183170 PAI

5

BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES: GOTHAM UNDER SIEGE GAME JUN180756 IDW

6

PATHFINDER RPG: NPC CODEX POCKET EDITION AUG183171 PAI

7

STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC JUN173371 PAI

8

PATHFINDER CAMPAIGN SETTING: SANDPOINT: LIGHT OF THE LOST COAST AUG183172 PAI

9

STARFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: AGAINST THE AEON THRONE PART 3 AUG183178 PAI

10

PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT: BASIC TERRAIN MULTI-PACK JUN132387 PAI

 

How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.

Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which includes the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from sales made to thousands of comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world.  Additional sales made to online merchants and other specialty retailers may be included as well.

Unit and dollar market shares are calculated based upon orders for comic books, graphic novels, and magazines invoiced and shipped to Diamond customers during any given month, which comprises pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable. Please note that comics marked with an asterisk (*) have had their reported quantities reduced due to retailer returnability, and thus may rank lower on the charts than their actual sales would reflect.

The New Titles Count Chart includes all titles that were invoiced by Diamond to retailers for the first time during the month and is not the official solicited title count for the month. Variant edition comic books and graphic novels at the same price point count as a single SKU. Variant edition comic books, lenticular covers, digital combo packs, and graphic novels at different price points count as separate SKUs for each edition.

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