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Diamond Announces Top Products for September 2018

(BALTIMORE, MD) — (October 12, 2018) — The mystery of Wolverine’s resurrection that has swirled since Marvel Legacy #1 reached its climax in Charles Soule and Steve McNiven’s Return of Wolverine #1 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book of September 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 September's top publisher with a 39.86% dollar share and a 43.24% unit share. DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 29.06% dollar share and a 32.76% unit share. Image Comics was third with a 10.13% dollar share and a 8.74% unit share. In fourth was Dark Horse Comics with a 3.62% dollar share and a 2.91% unit share, followed by IDW Publishing with a 3.14% dollar share and a 2.84% unit share, BOOM! Studios with a 2.12% dollar share and a 1.65% unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.55% dollar share and a 1.38% unit share.

Marvel Comics had five titles in the top ten. In addition to Return of Wolverine #1, Donny Cates, Gerry Duggan, Cory Smith, and Brian Level's Thanos Legacy #1 ranked #7; Fantastic Four #2 ranked #8; Nick Spencer, Humberto Ramos, and Steve Lieber's Amazing Spider-Man #6 ranked #9; and Spencer, Ryan Ottley, and Cliff Rathburn's Amazing Spider-Man #5 ranked #10. DC Entertainment had five titles in the top ten: Tom King and Clay Mann's Heroes in Crisis #1 ranked #2; Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Doomsday Clock #7 ranked #3; King and Tony S. Daniel's Batman #55 ranked #4; Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo's Batman: Damned #1, the debut release of DC's Black Label imprint, ranked #5; and King and Matt Wagner's Batman #54 ranked #6. Among the premier publishers, Image Comics' The Walking Dead #183 ranked #19; Dark Horse Comics' Stranger Things #1, based on the Netflix series, ranked #20; BOOM! Studios' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #31 ranked #111; IDW Publishing's Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons #2, a co-publication with Oni Press, ranked #118; and Dynamite Entertainment's Vampirella/Dejah Thoris #1 ranked #129.

Ending with a death that forever changes the series, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' Saga Volume 9 from Image Comics was September's best-selling graphic novel and one of the five Image titles among the top ten. DC Entertainment had three titles in the top ten, led by Tom King, David Finch, Joelle Jones, and Mikel Janin's Batman & Catwoman: The Wedding Album at #5. Marvel Comics had two titles in the top ten; their top book, Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Smuerak's Franklin Richards: A Fantastic Year, ranked #6.

Yen On's light novel Overlord Volume 8 was September's best-selling book. Also in the top ten, BOOM! Studios' Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Shortcuts ranked #4 for the month and the softcover edition of Gemstone Publishing's Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 48 ranked #7.

Josh Brolin's performance as Thanos was brought to life by Diamond Select Toys for the Marvel Gallery: Avengers Infinity War: Thanos PVC Figure, the best-selling toy product of September, and one of the four Diamond Select Toys products in the top ten. DC Collectibles had three products in the top ten, led by the DC TV: The Flash Season 3 Action Figure at #6.

Paizo's Creature Codex, a sourcebook for the Pathfinder role-playing game and other 5E systems, was September's best-selling game product and one of the eight Paizo products in the top ten.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

RETAIL MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 39.86%
DC ENTERTAINMENT 29.06%
IMAGE COMICS 10.13%
DARK HORSE COMICS 3.62%
IDW PUBLISHING 3.14%
BOOM! STUDIOS 2.12%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 1.55%
VIZ MEDIA 1.11%
ONI PRESS 0.99%
TITAN COMICS 0.80%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 7.63%
 
UNIT MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 43.24%
DC ENTERTAINMENT 32.76%
IMAGE COMICS 8.74%
DARK HORSE COMICS 2.91%
IDW PUBLISHING 2.84%
BOOM! STUDIOS 1.65%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 1.38%
ONI PRESS 0.69%
ARCHIE COMICS 0.59%
TITAN COMICS 0.47%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 4.71%

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

  DOLLARS UNITS
SEPTEMBER 2018 VS. AUGUST 2018
COMICS -4.51% -0.16%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -7.07% -3.86%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -5.30% -0.48%
TOYS -29.36% -9.02%
SEPTEMBER 2018 VS. SEPTEMBER 2017
COMICS 0.75% -6.58%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 11.74% 15.36%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 3.84% -5.09%
TOYS -1.58% 11.95%
THIRD QUARTER 2018 VS. SECOND QUARTER 2018
COMICS 0.23% -0.05%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 0.83% 1.89%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 0.40% 0.10%
TOYS 41.66% 28.44%
THIRD QUARTER 2018 VS. THIRD QUARTER 2017
COMICS 7.44% -0.82%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 1.95% 3.85%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 5.81% -0.47%
TOYS 9.23% 6.96%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017
COMICS 1.25% -6.78%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -4.80% -6.37%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -0.55% -6.75%
TOYS -4.74% -6.11%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER COMICS
SHIPPED
GRAPHIC NOVELS
SHIPPED
MAGAZINES
SHIPPED
TOTAL
SHIPPED
MARVEL COMICS 99 44 0 143
DC ENTERTAINMENT 66 35 0 101
IMAGE COMICS 66 27 0 93
DARK HORSE COMICS 25 21 0 46
IDW PUBLISHING 29 10 0 39
BOOM! STUDIOS 25 10 0 35
TITAN COMICS 11 7 3 21
VIZ MEDIA 0 21 0 21
ONI PRESS 9 7 0 16
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 12 3 0 15
OTHER NON-TOP 10 135 202 14 351
TOTAL 477 387 17 881

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 RETURN OF WOLVERINE #1 $4.99 JUL180952-M MAR
2 HEROES IN CRISIS #1 $3.99 JUL180592-M DC
3 DOOMSDAY CLOCK #7 $4.99 JUL180604-M DC
4 BATMAN #55 $3.99 JUL180626-M DC
5 BATMAN: DAMNED #1 (MR) $6.99 JUL180597-M DC
6 BATMAN #54 $3.99 JUL180624-M DC
7 THANOS LEGACY #1 $4.99 JUL180975-M MAR
8 FANTASTIC FOUR #2 $3.99 JUL180969-M MAR
9 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #6 $3.99 JUL181041-M MAR
10 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #5 $3.99 JUL181038-M MAR

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 RETURN OF WOLVERINE #1 $4.99 JUL180952-M MAR
2 BATMAN: DAMNED #1 (MR) $6.99 JUL180597-M DC
3 DOOMSDAY CLOCK #7 $4.99 JUL180604-M DC
4 HEROES IN CRISIS #1 $3.99 JUL180592-M DC
5 THANOS LEGACY #1 $4.99 JUL180975-M MAR
6 BATMAN #55 $3.99 JUL180626-M DC
7 SPIDER-GEDDON #0 $4.99 JUL180991-M MAR
8 BATMAN #54 $3.99 JUL180624-M DC
9 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #6 $3.99 JUL181041-M MAR
10 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 $4.99 JUL181035-M MAR

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 SAGA VOLUME 9 TP (MR) $14.99 JUL180297 IMA
2 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 30: NEW WORLD ORDER TP (MR) $16.99 JUL180335 IMA
3 MONSTRESS VOLUME 3 TP (MR) $16.99 JUL180261-M IMA
4 OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI VOL. 1 TP (MR) $9.99 JUL180159 IMA
5 BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE WEDDING ALBUM HC $17.99 JUN180572 DC
6 FRANKLIN RICHARDS: A FANTASTIC YEAR #1 $7.99 JUL180973 MAR
7 DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: THE SEARCH FOR ATLANTIS TP $9.99 JUN180439 DC
8 DESCENDER VOLUME 6: WAR MACHINE TP $16.99 JUL180209 IMA
9 STAR WARS: DARTH VADER VOLUME 3: BURNING SEAS TP $19.99 JUN180982 MAR
10 ACTION COMICS #1000: THE DELUXE EDITION HC $19.99 JUN180558 DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 SAGA VOLUME 9 TP (MR) $14.99 JUL180297 IMA
2 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 30: NEW WORLD ORDER TP (MR) $16.99 JUL180335 IMA
3 MONSTRESS VOLUME 3 TP (MR) $16.99 JUL180261-M IMA
4 BATMAN BY JEPH LOEB AND TIM SALE OMNIBUS HC $125.00 MAR180338 DC
5 SPIDER-MAN VS. VENOM OMNIBUS HC $125.00 MAR180976 MAR
6 ABSOLUTE BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE HC $49.99 JAN180393 DC
7 EARTH X TRILOGY OMNIBUS ALPHA HC $125.00 MAR180975 MAR
8 BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE WEDDING ALBUM HC $17.99 JUN180572 DC
9 DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE TP $24.99 JUN180575 DC
10 MARVEL MASTERWORKS: KILLRAVEN VOLUME 1 HC $100.00 MAR180981-M MAR

TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 OVERLORD LIGHT NOVEL VOLUME 8 HC $20.00 JUL182378 YEN
2 DISNEY/PIXAR: THE INCREDIBLES LIITLE GOLDEN BOOK $4.99 JUL181942 GOL
3 BLACK PANTHER: WARRIORS OF WAKANDA LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK $4.99 JUL181940 GOL
4 JIM HENSON’S LABYRINTH: SHORTCUTS HC $24.99 MAY181211 BOO
5 GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK 1 $12.99 OCT151871 ZEN
6 DC SUPER FRIENDS: AQUAMAN LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $4.99 JUL181941 GOL
7 OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 48 SC $29.95 APR181580-M GEM
8 GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK” THE LITTLE MERMAID $12.99 JUN182128 ZEN
9 DOG MAN VOLUME 5: LORD OF THE FLEAS GN $9.99 JUN181814 GRA
10 THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK $4.99 JUL181943 GOL

TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: THANOS PVC FIGURE APR182161 DST
2 MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: CAPTAIN AMERICA PVC FIGURE APR182158 DST
3 DEADPOOL LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES JUL178752 HAS
4 MARVEL SELECT: BEAST COMIC ACTION FIGURE MAR182431 DST
5 AVENGERS LEGENDS GEAR: INFINITY GAUNTLET JUL178729 HAS
6 DC TV THE FLASH SEASON 3 ACTION FIGURE AUG170365 DC
7 FINAL FANTASY: BAHAMUT CREATURES BRING ARTS FIGURE DEC178373 SQU
8 DC CORE: BATMAN PVC STATUE MAR180390 DC
9 DC DESIGNER SERIES: THE JOKER BY BRIAN BOLLAND MINI STATUE MAR180389 DC
10 MARVEL PREMIERE: VENOM STATUE JUL172797 DST

TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 CREATURE CODEX HC JUL183073 PAI
2 STARFINDER RPG: ARMORY HC MAY182931 PAI
3 PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT: BASIC TERRAIN MULTI-PACK JUN132387 PAI
4 THE TOME OF BEASTS HC JUN168476 PAI
5 STARFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: THE AEON THRONE PART 1 JUN182907 PAI
6 PATHFINDER FLIP TILES: FOREST STARTER SET JUN182906 PAI
7 MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: COMMANDER 2018 APR182621 ALL
8 STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC JUN173371 PAI
9 PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK JUN091729 PAI
10 MODERN AGE RPG: BASIC RULEBOOK HC MAR182714 GRE

 

Dollar Market Shares for September 2018
Dollar Market Share – September 2018
Unit Market Shares for September 2018
Unit Market Share – September 2018

 

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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