Tag Archives: diamond

Ready for October? Previews Reveals Its Cover

The October edition of Diamond Comic Distributors’ monthly PREVIEWS catalog arrives in comic shops, hobby stores, and other specialty outlets on September 23rd and features comic books, graphic novels, toys, and other pop culture merchandise scheduled to go on sale beginning December 2015. The theme for the month is Sci-Fi, so you can expect to see some of the best science-fiction comic books and graphic novels featured!

ON THE FRONT COVER: Wonder Woman guest-stars in the first issue of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti’s new Harley Quinn team-up book, DC Entertainment’s Harley’s Little Black Book.

ON THE BACK COVER: Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin’s Eisner Award-winning webcomic The Private Eye is collected by Image Comics in a deluxe hardcover edition.

The October PREVIEWS Features

Sci-Fi Month — Adventure and imagination await as PREVIEWS celebrates the best of science-fiction in comic books and graphic novels.

On the FlipsidePREVIEWS talks to a number of creators — Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, Rick Loverd, and Paul Jenkins — in exclusive interviews.

Gems of the Month — October’s PREVIEWS Gems of the Month include: Greg Rucka pens a new tale in the world of BioWare’s Dragon Age video game series in Dark Horse Comics’ Dragon Age: Magekiller; the Dark Knight and the Heroes on the Half Shell team up in DC Entertainment’s Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; IDW Publishing takes us into the galaxy’s most prestigious university in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy; in a future where privacy no longer exists, there are still secrets to be uncovered in Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin’s The Private Eye: Cloudburst Edition from Image Comics; and Kate Leth and Brittney Williams bring back Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! in the new Marvel Comics series.

SplashPREVIEWS shines a special spotlight at some of the blockbuster books and products coming this December, including Amadeus Cho as Marvel Comics’ The Totally Awesome Hulk from Greg Pak and Frank Cho; tales of dragons are told in BOOM! Studios’ Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Dragons; Oni Press collects their best-selling Invader Zim comics; new publisher Aftershock Comics launches with the sci-fi series Replica; Ant Lucia’s fan-favorite artwork is features on the ‘Toon Tumblers DC Bombshells Mini Glasses; and many more products you have to look forward to this December.

PREVIEWS Exclusive Apparel — Each month PREVIEWS offers comic book fans and pop culture aficionados a selection of t-shirts and other apparel that can only be found in your local comic shop! Gwen Stacy leaps for joy on the Spider-Gwen: “Moon Lit” Black T-Shirt, and the classic Turtles star on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: “Eastman & Laird Faces” White T-Shirt. These and many other shirts can only be found through PREVIEWS.

Indie EdgePREVIEWS talks to James Tynion IV, writer of Batman and Robin Eternal from DC Entertainment and The Woods from BOOM! Studios, about his career, his work, and the books he’s reading today.

Plus: Staff Picks, the month’s Certified Cool books, the monthly Bestseller Charts, and so much more!

All this awaits you in the October edition of PREVIEWS, which goes on sale at your local comic shop or specialty store on Wednesday, September 23rd with the new, lower cover price of just $3.99.

Front Cover

 

Diamond Announces the Top Products For August 2015

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.

dollar-share 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

 

Diamond Has Announced the Top Products in July

comics_diamond_comic_distributors_incDiamond has released data on how comic sales were in July including retail and unit market share. Marvel held the top spot in both retail market share and unite share, with DC Comics coming in second. The two shipped the exact same amount of comics that month. Image Comics was third as well, hovering around 10% for each stat.

The top comic sold for the month was Marvel’s Secret Wars #4 followed by Star Wars: Lando #1. The publisher had 8 of the top ten single issues. DC Comics saw success with Batman #42 which came in at number five, while Archie Comics had success with Archie #1 which was seventh.

When it came to graphic novels, DC was on top with Fables Vol. 22 which wrapped up the long running series. They had four out of the top 10 books. Marvel had two in the top ten. Image had two as well, and Dynamite and Valiant each had one.

RETAIL MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 38.43%
DC COMICS 23.94%
IMAGE COMICS 9.48%
IDW PUBLISHING 6.60%
DARK HORSE COMICS 3.77%
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 2.28%
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT 1.85%
DYNAMIC FORCES 1.83%
TITAN 1.26%
ONI PRESS INC. 1.24%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 9.32%

 

UNIT MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 41.59%
DC COMICS 24.30%
IMAGE COMICS 10.72%
IDW PUBLISHING 5.28%
DARK HORSE COMICS 3.36%
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 2.62%
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT 1.99%
DYNAMIC FORCES 1.65%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 1.52%
ONI PRESS INC. 1.19%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 5.77%

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 SECRET WARS #4 $3.99 APR150697-M MAR
2 STAR WARS: LANDO #1 $3.99 MAY150764-M MAR
3 CIVIL WAR #1 $4.99 MAY150682-M MAR
4 STAR WARS #7 $3.99 MAY150775-M MAR
5 BATMAN #42 $3.99 MAY150192-M DC
6 DARTH VADER #7 $3.99 APR150858-M MAR
7 ARCHIE #1 $3.99 APR151026-M ARC
8 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #2 $3.99 APR150758-M MAR
9 AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1 $4.99 MAY150692-M MAR
10 GUARDIANS OF KNOWHERE #1 $3.99 APR150830-M MAR

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 FABLES VOLUME 22 TP (MR) $17.99 APR150316 DC
2 THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOL. 2: FANDEMONIUM TP (MR) $14.99 APR150619 IMA
3 HAWKEYE VOLUME 4: RIO BRAVO TP $17.99 OCT140937 MAR
4 RED SONJA #1973 $7.99 MAY151220 DE
5 BATMAN: HARLEY QUINN TP $19.99 APR150289 DC
6 AUTUMNLANDS VOL. 1: TOOTH & CLAW TP (MR) $9.99 APR150573 IMA
7 DIVINITY TP $9.99 MAY151625 VAL
8 NEW SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 1: PURE INSANITY TP $16.99 APR150302 DC
9 CIVIL WAR TP $24.99 JAN072436 MAR
10 BATMAN ETERNAL VOLUME 2 TP $39.99 APR150286 DC

Around the Tubes

It’s new comic book day! What’s everyone excited for?

Around the Tubes

ICv2 – Toon Books Signs With Diamond Nice to see.

Publishers Weekly – Breakout Graphic Memoir ‘Arab of the Future’ Coming to U.S. This sounds fantastic.

Variety – Simon Pegg: Comic Book, Sci-Fi Movies Are ‘Dumbing Down’ Industry This is the part where we make a joke about how high-brow Pegg’s movies are.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – A-Force #1

The Outhousers – Airboy #1

Diamond Announces Baltimore as Site for 2015 Retailer Summit

RS 2014Diamond Comic Distributors has announced that its 2015 Retailer Summit for comic book specialty retailers will take place September 2325, 2015 in Baltimore, MD. That’s just a few days before Baltimore Con Con 2015.

Diamond also announced that it will partner with Baltimore Comic-Con, which will be held right after the Summit from September 25-27, to share marketing and strategic initiatives for the combined events. Baltimore Comic-Con’s Exhibit Hall will serve as the Summit’s Exhibit Hall during special “Retailer Only” hours.

baltimore comic con 2015Now in its 13th year, Diamond’s Retailer Summit is the leading annual event for comic book specialty retailers to meet with publishers and vendors, and come together with fellow retailers to discuss the industry and their businesses. Top publishers such as Dark Horse Comics, DC Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, and Marvel Comics come and share exciting new projects, while retailers get to network and learn about new business practices to help them succeed and thrive in today’s retailing environment.

Additional details and registration for the industry’s annual retailer event will be announced in early 2015.

Diamond and Trajectory’s Global Digital Comic Deal

Diamond Distributors today announced a deal with Trajectory Inc. that would bring “printed comics into digital marketplaces around the world.” Trajectory will produce the digital comics in its Beijing facility and distribute the digital editions through eBook retailers, libraries, and school distributors on six continents.

Trajectory allows publishers to upload their files, and designate where they would like their digital comics distributed.

This is the second time Diamond has dipped their toes into the digital comics market. In 2012, Diamond launched Diamond Digital, a platform they launched with iVerse Media. That service closed down about two years later.

The highest profile project that I found so far by Trajectory is a Classics Illustrated app. You can see from the statistics below that hasn’t exactly broken through as far as downloads, or sales. Below are the apps gross statistics for the iPad (top) and iPhone below that.

Interestingly Trajectory Inc had originally created that Classics Illustrated App, offering it on numerous digital platforms in 2012. About a year later, Trajectory had entered a deal with comiXology to provide those Classics Illustrated books on their digital platform.

ipad_gross iphone_grossing

Around the Tubes

So the news is rolling out of New York Comic Con! What so far is the most excited announcement?

Around the Tubes

ICv2 – Marvel Announces ‘X-Force Crossover’ – Necessary? Sound fun?

Publisher’s Weekly – Diamond Reports Number of Comics Shops Up 4% in 2013 – Nice!

ICv2 – Prequel to Paul Pope’s ‘Battling Boy’ Due in July – Hells yes!

Around the Tubes Reviews

Talking Comics – Coffin Hill #1

CBR – Infinity #4

Talking Comics – Superman/Wonder Woman #1

Around the Tubes

The weekend is almost here! What are folks doing? It’s raining all weekend here, so a great excuse to stay indoors and read some comics.

Around the Tubes

CBR – EXCLUSIVE: Corben Combines Poe’s “Raven” with “Masque of the Red Death” For the Poe fans out there!

The Beat Diamond announces their Common Core list I think I just found a great list to cover and review!

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

Comic Vine – Fatale #15

Comic Vine – The Flash #21

Comic Vine – The Green Team: Teen Trillionaires #2

CBR – Hawkeye #11

CBR – Justice League Dark #21

Comic Vine – Justice League of America #5

Bleeding Cool – Satellite Sam #1

The Beat – Young Avengers #6

Diamond Select Toys Ranked #1 Toy Company to Comic Book Specialty Market in 2012

Diamond Comics Distributors announced today that Diamond Select Toys ranked first among all collectable toy manufacturers in sales to the comic book specialty market for the year 2012.  The ranking was based on toy sales to over 3,500 comic book shops and specialty stores serviced by DCD, primarily in North America. DST’s strong year was driven by successful product lines for several prominent licenses, including The Walking Dead, Marvel’s The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Comics, Knight Rider, Universal Monsters and The Munsters.

The Marvel Select action figure line saw some of its most popular releases ever in 2012, including characters based on Marvel’s The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man, the year’s #1 and #6 top-grossing movies, respectively. Citing their sculpting and articulation, many fan sites are calling DST’s film-based Spider-Man and Hulk figures two of the best action figures of 2012. Both films also received lines of Minimates mini-figures, and DST’s collectible busts of the Amazing Spider-Man characters have been praised for their detail and accuracy.

A line of Minimates based on the comic book The Walking Dead got off to a strong start in 2012, with Series 1 selling out at comic shops nationwide, alongside a vinyl bank based on one of the book’s many zombies. Electronic vehicles and Minimate vehicles for Knight Rider and The Munsters performed well for DST, and their new assortments of Munsters Select and Universal Monsters Select action figures have been embraced by both old and new fans.

Diamond Select Toys has already begun work on products surrounding the new Iron Man, Thor and Wolverine films as well as the new Tomb Raider video game. There’s also the 50th series of Marvel Minimates and the line of electronic Star Trek ships role play items and relaunching of the Star Trek Minimates line later in the year.

AmazingSpider-ManSelect AvengersHulkSelect2 AvengersMinimates KITTElec1 KoachElecWhite1 MunstersBoxSet_front1 PhantomSelect1 walkingdeadmm1

Around the Tubes

I headed to the Small Press Expo outside of Washington, DC yesterday and picked up a huge stack of books, expect some thoughts on the show tomorrow. For now, here’s the news you might have missed.

Around the Blogs:

Bleeding Cool – Ken Penders Stops Diamond From Distributing Sonic CollectionsInteresting.

Bleeding Cool – Amazon Make Amends For Marvel’s Briefcase Bungle With Free Copies Of The AvengersCool of them to do this.

Portland Mercury – “Technically, fictional mutants have more rights than real gay people.”So true and so sad.

Washington Post – 2012 National Book Festival: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Graphic Novels -Might have to check this out.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews:

Bleeding Cool – Stumptown #1 – Volume 2

« Older Entries Recent Entries »