The secrets behind the creation of Battleworld are revealed in Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic‘s Secret Wars #5 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book in August 2015 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.

Marvel Comics was August’s top publisher with a 36.67% dollar share and a 40.13% unit share. DC Entertainment was the month’s number two publisher with a 25.39% dollar share and a 26.95% unit share. August’s number three publisher was Image Comics with a 9.98% dollar share and a 10.41% unit share. In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 4.90% dollar share and a 4.26% unit share. Dark Horse Comics placed fifth for the month with a 4.09% dollar share and a 3.63% unit share.

In August, Marvel Comics had seven titles among the top ten best-selling comics, including Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca’s Darth Vader #8 and Dan Slott and Adam Kubert’s Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #3 at #5. DC Entertainment had two titles maintain their top ten positions — Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman #43 at #3 and Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok’s Justice League #43 at #8. Also in the top ten was Image Comics with Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead #145 at #7 for the month. Outside the top ten, August’s best-selling non-premier comic book was Oni Press’ Invader Zim #2, based on the fan-favorite animated series, which ranked #43 overall.

Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead Volume 24: Life and Death from Image Comics was the best-selling graphic novel for August and one of the publisher’s five volumes in the top ten. DC Entertainment had two titles in the top ten, led by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s Batman: The Killing Joke Special Edition at #2. Marvel Comics placed three titles in the top ten, with Mark Millar and Steve McNiven’s Civil War at #4.

IDW Publishing’s Frank Miller’s Daredevil Artifact Edition, a recreation of Miller’s classic Daredevil artwork, was August’s best-selling book. Also among the top ten were two books from Dark Horse Comics; Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia ranked #2 and Avatar: The Last Airbender Poster Collection ranked #7.

DC Entertainment’s Batman Black & White: Batgirl by Babs Tarr, a statue that recreates the new look of Batgirl, was August’s best-selling toy and one of the manufacturer’s three products in the top ten. Also in the top ten was Diamond Select Toys with five products; the Marvel Select: Avengers Age of Ultron: Black Widow Action Figure was their best-selling product at #3.

The Marvel HeroClix: Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD Booster Brick, an expansion for WizKids/NECA’s collectible miniatures game, was August’s best-selling game product. Also in the top ten was Diamond Select Toys’ Back to the Future Monopoly, a custom edition of the board game based on the beloved film series, ranked #2.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER	DOLLAR SHARE	UNIT SHARE
MARVEL COMICS	36.67%	40.13%
DC ENTERTAINMENT	25.39%	26.95%
IMAGE COMICS	9.98%	10.41%
IDW PUBLISHING	4.90%	4.26%
DARK HORSE COMICS	4.09%	3.63%
BOOM! STUDIOS	2.33%	2.38%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT	2.01%	2.03%
TITAN COMICS	1.33%	1.42%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT	1.07%	1.37%
ONI PRESS	1.12%	1.11%
OTHER NON-TOP 10	11.10%	6.32%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER	COMICS SHIPPED	GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED	MAGAZINES SHIPPED	TOTAL SHIPPED
MARVEL COMICS	72	33	0	105
DC ENTERTAINMENT	70	26	1	97
IMAGE COMICS	61	16	0	77
IDW PUBLISHING	39	18	0	57
DARK HORSE COMICS	32	13	0	45
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT	31	8	0	39
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT	19	8	0	27
TITAN COMICS	11	6	1	18
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC	11	5	0	16
ONI PRESS INC.	9	3	0	12
OTHER NON-TOP 10	81	145	46	272

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

	DOLLARS	UNITS
AUGUST 2015 VS. JULY 2015
COMICS	-18.24%	-15.79%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	-10.71%	-20.19%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	-15.89%	-16.20%
AUGUST 2015 VS. AUGUST 2014
COMICS	2.25%	0.03%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	16.04%	11.89%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	6.45%	0.97%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2015 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2014
COMICS	11.38%	10.61%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	6.35%	5.96%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	9.80%	10.22%

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	SECRET WARS #5	$3.99	MAY150642-M	MAR
2	STAR WARS #8	$3.99	MAY150780-M	MAR
3	BATMAN #43	$3.99	JUN150239-M	DC
4	DARTH VADER #8	$3.99	MAY150786	MAR
5	AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #3	$3.99	MAY150716-M	MAR
6	AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #4	$3.99	JUN150736-M	MAR
7	THE WALKING DEAD #145 (MR)	$2.99	JUN150539	IMA
8	JUSTICE LEAGUE #43	$3.99	JUN150172-M	DC
9	CIVIL WAR #2	$3.99	MAY150690-M	MAR
10	STAR WARS: LANDO #2	$3.99	MAY150774	MAR

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 24: LIFE AND DEATH TP (MR)	$14.99	JUN150590	IMA
2	BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL EDITION HC	$17.99	NOV070226	DC
3	BLACK SCIENCE VOL. 3: VANISHING POINT TP (MR)	$14.99	JUN150521	IMA
4	CIVIL WAR TP	$24.99	JAN072436	MAR
5	RETURN OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL TP	$16.99	MAY150827	MAR
6	FABLES VOLUME 22 TP (MR)	$17.99	APR150316	DC
7	CHEW VOLUME 10: BLOOD PUDDIN’ TP (MR)	$14.99	JUN150496	IMA
8	UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL VOL. 1: SQUIRREL POWER TP	$15.99	MAY150824	MAR
9	SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR)	$9.99	AUG120491	IMA
10	SUNSTONE VOLUME 3 GN (MR)	$14.99	JUN150583	IMA

TOP 10 BOOKS

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	FRANK MILLER’S DAREDEVIL ARTIFACT EDITION HC	$75.00	MAR150343	IDW
2	LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC	$34.99	SEP120055	DAR
3	BATMAN YOU CHOOSE STORIES: TERRIBLE TRIO	$6.95	JUN151729	CAP
4	BATMAN YOU CHOOSE STORIES: SUPER VILLAIN SMACKDOWN	$6.95	JUN151728	CAP
5	THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 98	$14.95	JUN151745	SAN
6	THE ART OF MOUSE GUARD 2005-2015 HC	$59.99	MAY151087	BOO
7	AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER: POSTER COLLECTION TP	$24.99	MAR150041	DAR
8	THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOL. 45 SC	$29.95	APR151522	GEM
9	DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN: ATTACK OF THE MAN-BAT SC	$5.95	JUN151730	CAP
10	DC SUPER HEROES SUPERMAN: DARK SIDE OF APOKOLIPS SC	$5.95	JUN151732	CAP

TOP 10 TOYS

RANK	DESCRIPTION	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE: BATGIRL BY BABS TARR	FEB150303	DC
2	MARVEL COMICS VARIANT PLAY ARTS KAI: IRON MAN FIGURE	DEC148331	SQU
3	MARVEL SELECT AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON: BLACK WIDOW FIGURE	FEB152166	DST
4	MARVEL SELECT: ZOMBIE SABRETOOTH FIGURE	MAR152070	DST
5	DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: LOIS LANE STATUE	FEB150301	DC
6	MARVEL SELECT: ANT-MAN FIGURE	FEB152167	DST
7	WOMEN OF DYNAMITE: VAMPIRELLA STATUE	APR151332	DYN
8	MARVEL SELECT AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON: THOR FIGURE	JAN152175	DST
9	MARVEL SELECT: RED HULK FIGURE	MAR088262	DST
10	DC COMICS DESIGNER SERIES BY JAE LEE: BATMAN FIGURE	FEB150297	DC

TOP 10 GAMES

RANK	DESCRIPTION	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	MARVEL HEROCLIX: NICK FURY AGENT OF SHIELD BOOSTER BRICK	MAY152783	NEC
2	BACK TO THE FUTURE MONOPOLY	JUL152198	DST
3	GAME OF THRONES RISK	JUN152759	USA
4	BATMAN: FLUXX CARD GAME	JUN152744	LOO
5	STAR WARS X-WING: IMPERIAL RAIDER EXPANSION PACK	FEB152685	FAN
6	LEGEND OF ZELDA YAHTZEE COLLECTOR’S EDITION	JUL152936	USA
7	GAME OF THRONES MONOPOLY	APR152735	USA
8	MARVEL HEROCLIX: NICK FURY AGENT OF SHIELD FAST FORCES 6-PACK	MAY152785	NEC
9	STAR WARS: FORCE AND DESTINY RPG CORE RULEBOOK	APR152724	FAN
10	MARVEL DICE MASTERS: AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON FOIL PACKS	MAR152653	NEC